TY - JOUR
KW - Adult
KW - Alcoholism/therapy
KW - Automobile Driving
KW - Education, Medical/standards
KW - Humans
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Physician's Practice Patterns
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Professional Competence
KW - Questionnaires
KW - Referral and Consultation
KW - Substance-Related Disorders/therapy
AU - L. Fucito
AU - B. Gomes
AU - B. Murnion
AU - P. Haber
A1 - 
AB - The aim of this study was to determine the current practices of established general practitioners in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related problems and identify gaps in training. A random sample of general practitioners completed a survey assessing diagnostic skills and referral practices concerning alcohol and illicit drug use in general practices in February 1999, comprising 110 general practitioners registered with the Central Sydney Division of General Practice. The main outcome measures were competent skills and knowledge, willingness to treat. The majority (96%) of GPs provided clinically appropriate responses for at least one drug category, although none received this rating for all six. Most general practitioners reported that they were unwilling to treat heroin and cocaine problems themselves but expressed willingness to refer patients appropriately. More than a quarter of general practitioners were unaware of the safe drinking levels for men and women or the appropriate treatment for patients consuming above such levels. Age, years in practice, type of practice, willingness to obtain drug use histories and post-graduate training were all significantly associated with general practitioners' willingness to treat and competence in managing drug and alcohol-related problems. In this study, general practioners reported low levels of skills and referrals for treatment of illicit drug use and suboptimal skills in the management of alcohol problems. The results suggest that a more comprehensive approach to education and training is required to bring about a change in practice behaviour. [Fucito LM, Gomes BS, Murnion B, Haber PS. General practitioners' diagnostic skills and referral practices in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related health problems: implications for medical training and education programmes.
BT - Drug and Alcohol Review
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 4
CY - England
DO - 10.1080/09595230310001613930
IS - 4
JF - Drug and Alcohol Review
N2 - The aim of this study was to determine the current practices of established general practitioners in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related problems and identify gaps in training. A random sample of general practitioners completed a survey assessing diagnostic skills and referral practices concerning alcohol and illicit drug use in general practices in February 1999, comprising 110 general practitioners registered with the Central Sydney Division of General Practice. The main outcome measures were competent skills and knowledge, willingness to treat. The majority (96%) of GPs provided clinically appropriate responses for at least one drug category, although none received this rating for all six. Most general practitioners reported that they were unwilling to treat heroin and cocaine problems themselves but expressed willingness to refer patients appropriately. More than a quarter of general practitioners were unaware of the safe drinking levels for men and women or the appropriate treatment for patients consuming above such levels. Age, years in practice, type of practice, willingness to obtain drug use histories and post-graduate training were all significantly associated with general practitioners' willingness to treat and competence in managing drug and alcohol-related problems. In this study, general practioners reported low levels of skills and referrals for treatment of illicit drug use and suboptimal skills in the management of alcohol problems. The results suggest that a more comprehensive approach to education and training is required to bring about a change in practice behaviour. [Fucito LM, Gomes BS, Murnion B, Haber PS. General practitioners' diagnostic skills and referral practices in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related health problems: implications for medical training and education programmes.
PP - England
PY - 2003
SN - 0959-5236; 0959-5236
SP - 417
EP - 424
EP - 
T1 - General practitioners' diagnostic skills and referral practices in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related health problems: Implications for medical training and education programmes
T2 - Drug and Alcohol Review
TI - General practitioners' diagnostic skills and referral practices in managing patients with drug and alcohol-related health problems: Implications for medical training and education programmes
U1 - Education & Workforce
U2 - 14660131
U3 - 10.1080/09595230310001613930
VL - 22
VO - 0959-5236; 0959-5236
Y1 - 2003
ER -