title: The Approach Taken to Substance Abuse by Occupational Physicians: A Qualitative Study on Influencing Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aiming to enhance occupational physicians' (OPs) practice when dealing with employee substance abuse, this study analyzes the experiences of OPs to gain insight into the factors influencing their behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OPs act differently depending on the type of drug. Their approach was mainly determined by contextual factors and by their attitudes and skills. Many OPs want to invest in health promotion. Barriers such as lack of time and focus on periodic examinations often hamper both adequate prevention and the management of workers with substance abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The approach to substance abuse by OPs could be supported by initiatives both at the individual and the collective level. A facilitating work context seems to be particularly important in their commitment to alcohol- and drug-related issues at work.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment and Health (Ms Lambrechts, Dr Godderis), KU Leuven, University of Leuven; Association for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems (Ms Lambrechts), VAD, Brussels; Department of General Practice/Family Medicine (Dr Ketterer, Dr Vanmeerbeek), University of Liege; Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care (Ms Symons, Dr Peremans, Dr Remmen), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk; Department of Public Health Sciences (Dr Mairiaux), University of Liege; Department of Public Health (Dr Peremans), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels; Department of Nursing and Midwifery (Dr Peremans), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk; and IDEWE (Dr Godderis), External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ketterer
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Symons
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mairiaux
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peremans
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Remmen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanmeerbeek
authors.forename: Lode
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Godderis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*