General practitioners’ management of psychostimulant drug misuse: Implications for education and training

Abstract

Aims: To provide baseline data regarding GPs’ knowledge, experience, and attitudes toward the management of PsychoStimulant Drug Misuse (PSDM) patients to inform future education and training initiatives.

Methods: A structured cross-sectional postal questionnaire was developed following initial content setting interviews, piloted then sent to a sample of 250 GPs in north east Scotland.

Findings: A 52.13% response rate was achieved after two reminders. Over 42% of GPs expressed uncertainty about their knowledge regarding PSDM. The majority were aware that some patients were using psychostimulant drugs (61.5%), and 62.7% thought this was increasing. More than half the GPs did not have experience in managing PSDM. Although 57% of respondents agreed that GPs should be involved over half (54.1%) were not personally willing to do so.

Conclusion: GPs are aware of the rise in PSDM prevalence in their communities, but chose to keep their involvement minimal. The majority thought that the most suitable way to manage PSDM patients was primarily by specialist services with minimum input from them. A change in attitudes, education and guidance are necessary to encourage GPs to be more involved in the management of PSDM patients.