title: GPs' attitudes on a healthy lifestyle: a survey of GPs in Flanders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients often consider health professionals to be role models for leading a healthy lifestyle but no data is available on tobacco, alcohol, or substance use among GPs in Flanders (northern Belgium).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of smoking, alcohol, and substance use among GPs, in order to determine factors that influence these habits and to elucidate GPs' attitudes toward a healthy lifestyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey-based study in Flanders, Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographic data and individual risk behaviour were collected by an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. GPs and family doctors in training were sent an email request between 1 April and 31 May 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 626 responders, 57% were male. The mean age was 45 years. Eight per cent (n = 50) were current smokers. Independent risk factors for smoking were: working alone, hazardous alcohol consumption, and smoking cannabis. Fourteen per cent (n = 86) consumed alcohol daily and 12% (n = 73) admitted at least one episode of binge drinking per month. Being male, cigarette smoking, cannabis use, and long working hours were associated with an increased likelihood of hazardous drinking. Sixteen per cent (n = 101) had used sleeping pills and 12% (n = 72) had used minor opiates as painkillers in the year before the study. Two-thirds (64%, n = 399) of GPs said they would be reluctant to seek medical help if they were misusing drugs or alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking is uncommon in Flemish GPs; in contrast, alcohol consumption is high. GPs who misuse substances will not seek help readily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saeys
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cammu
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: alcohol use; general practitioner; smoking; substance use; tobacco use