title: Abuse of family physicians by patients seeking controlled substances.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine family physicians' career prevalence and monthly incidence of workplace abuse by controlled substance prescription seekers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4-page cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A family medicine continuing medical education event in Halifax, NS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was distributed to 316 family physicians attending the continuing medical education event.
  
  
  METHODS
  Career prevalence and monthly incidence of workplace abuse related to the act of prescribing controlled substances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six percent (n = 178) of the 316 surveys were returned completed. Half the study participants were men (49%). Most study participants were in private practice and lived in Nova Scotia, and approximately half (51%) practised in urban settings. On average, the study participants had 20 years of practice experience. The career prevalence of abusive encounters related to controlled substance prescribing was divided into "minor," "major," and "severe" incidents. Overall, 95% of study participants reported having experienced at least 1 incident of minor abuse; 48% had experienced at least 1 incident of major abuse; and 17% had experienced at least 1 incident of severe abuse during their careers. Further, 30% reported having been abused in the past month; among those, the average number of abusive encounters was 3. Most (82%) of the abusers were male with a history of addiction (85%) and mental illness (39%). Opioids were the most frequently sought controlled substance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abuse of family physicians by patients seeking controlled substances is substantial. Family physicians who prescribe controlled substances are at risk of being subjected to minor, major, or even severe abuse. Opioids were the most often sought controlled substance. A national discussion to deal with this issue is needed.
authors: Family Medicine Teaching Unit, Dr Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, PO Box 9000, Priestman St, Fredericton, NB E3B 5N5. baukje.miedema@HorizonNB.ca.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Saveland
authors: Leisha
authors: L
authors: Hawker
authors: Baukje
authors: B
authors: Miedema
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Macdougall
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D058445:Bullying; D061891:Controlled Substances; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012919:Social Behavior; D055807:Stalking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D061891:Controlled Substances