Difficulties associated with outpatient management of drug abusers by general practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners with and without methadone patients in Switzerland.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_89B75A7556DC
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Difficulties associated with outpatient management of drug abusers by general practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners with and without methadone patients in Switzerland.
Journal
BMC family practice
Author(s)
Pelet A., Besson J., Pécoud A., Favrat B.
ISSN
1471-2296[electronic]
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2005
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
6
Pages
51
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article - Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, general practitioners (GPs) manage most of the patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). METHODS: Using a cross-sectional postal survey of GPs who treat MMT patients and GPs who do not, we studied the difficulties encountered in the out-patient management of drug-addicted patients. We sent a questionnaire to every GP with MMT patients (556) in the French-speaking part of Switzerland (1,757,000 inhabitants). We sent another shorter questionnaire to primary care physicians without MMT patients living in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. RESULTS: The response rate was 63.3%. The highest methadone dose given by GPs to MMT patients averaged 120.4 mg/day. When asked about help they would like to be given, GPs with MMT patients primarily mentioned the importance of receiving adequate fees for the care they provide. Secondly, they mentioned the importance of better training, better knowledge of psychiatric pathologies, and discussion groups on practical cases. GPs without MMT patients refuse to treat these patients mostly for emotional and relational reasons. CONCLUSION: GPs encounter financial, relational and emotional difficulties with MMT patients. They desire better fees for services and better training.
Keywords
Ambulatory Care, Attitude of Health Personnel, Clinical Competence, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health Services, Methadone, Physician-Patient Relations, Physicians, Family, Primary Health Care, Questionnaires, Refusal to Treat, Substance-Related Disorders, Switzerland
Pubmed
Open Access
Yes
Create date
29/02/2008 11:34
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:48
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