Tobacco use by physicians in a physician health program, implications for treatment and monitoring.
The use of tobacco by physicians with substance abuse histories is drastically understudied. A chart review of 1319 physicians enrolled in a physician health program found tobacco use highest for those referred for substance abuse problems (58.1%). Among a subset of currently monitored substance abusers, all those who relapsed during monitoring were using tobacco and had more difficulty maintaining sobriety following initial treatment (p = 0.0137) than non tobacco users. Because tobacco was a risk factor for relapse, reasons why physician health programs should address its use and treatment facilities should establish tobacco-free environments to provide optimum learning and recovery are explored.
Stuyt
Elizabeth B
EB
Colorado Physician Health Program, Denver, Colorado 81003, USA. elizabeth.stuyt@state.co.us
Gundersen
Doris C
DC
Shore
Jay H
JH
Brooks
Elizabeth
E
Gendel
Michael H
MH
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010815:Physician Impairment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013038:Specialization; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*