TY - JOUR

T1 - Alcohol and drug use among Danish physicians. A nationwide cross-sectional study in 2014

AU - Sørensen, Johanne Korsdal

AU - Pedersen, Anette Fischer

AU - Bruun, Niels Henrik

AU - Christensen, Bo

AU - Vedsted, Peter

PY - 2015/9

Y1 - 2015/9

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to describe Danish physicians' use of alcohol and drugs, their self-reported assessment of their use of alcohol and drugs, and their management of colleagues with substance use disorder in physician workplaces.METHODS: During the spring of 2014, a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as an anonymous, electronic survey among a randomly weighted sample of 1) consultants and practicing specialists, 2) younger physicians (trainees) and 3) general practitioners in Denmark. A total of 4,000 physicians (approx. 1,333 from each group) were sampled and 1,943 responded (49%). The survey included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test on alcohol use and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test on drug use and related questions on health and psychological issues.RESULTS: The three groups had an almost equal share of risky alcohol use (comprising hazardous, harmful and dependent use) of 17.2-20.3%. The highest proportion (24%) of risky alcohol use was found for both internal medicine and emergency medicine and the lowest for general practice (16%). Significantly more male physicians (25.1%) than female physicians (14.4%) reported risky alcohol use. Among physicians with risky substance use, 23.1% recognised their risky use.CONCLUSION: The proportion of physicians with a risky use of alcohol and drugs was 19% and 3.0%, respectively. Signi-ficantly more male than female physicians reported risky alcohol use. Among physicians with a risky substance use, only one in four recognised this as problematic.FUNDING: Friis' Fond, Sygekassernes Helsefond and the Danish Medical Association.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to describe Danish physicians' use of alcohol and drugs, their self-reported assessment of their use of alcohol and drugs, and their management of colleagues with substance use disorder in physician workplaces.METHODS: During the spring of 2014, a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as an anonymous, electronic survey among a randomly weighted sample of 1) consultants and practicing specialists, 2) younger physicians (trainees) and 3) general practitioners in Denmark. A total of 4,000 physicians (approx. 1,333 from each group) were sampled and 1,943 responded (49%). The survey included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test on alcohol use and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test on drug use and related questions on health and psychological issues.RESULTS: The three groups had an almost equal share of risky alcohol use (comprising hazardous, harmful and dependent use) of 17.2-20.3%. The highest proportion (24%) of risky alcohol use was found for both internal medicine and emergency medicine and the lowest for general practice (16%). Significantly more male physicians (25.1%) than female physicians (14.4%) reported risky alcohol use. Among physicians with risky substance use, 23.1% recognised their risky use.CONCLUSION: The proportion of physicians with a risky use of alcohol and drugs was 19% and 3.0%, respectively. Signi-ficantly more male than female physicians reported risky alcohol use. Among physicians with a risky substance use, only one in four recognised this as problematic.FUNDING: Friis' Fond, Sygekassernes Helsefond and the Danish Medical Association.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26324083

VL - 62

SP - A5132

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

SN - 2245-1919

IS - 9

ER -