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Tobacco Use by Physicians in a Physician Health Program, Implications for Treatment and Monitoring
Author(s) -
Stuyt Elizabeth B.,
Gundersen Doris C.,
Shore Jay H.,
Brooks Elizabeth,
Gendel Michael H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490902773015
Subject(s) - sobriety , tobacco use , medicine , substance abuse , substance abuse treatment , family medicine , psychiatry , environmental health , population
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.