UI - 000111

AU - Schwartz RH

AU - Johnson NP

AU - Hornung CA

AU - Phelps GL

AU - Berg EW

TI - Awareness of substance abuse in orthopedic patients: a survey of orthopedic surgeons

AB - We surveyed 178 orthopedic physicians in the Washington, DC, area to ascertain the effect on patient

care of previous education in the area of drug and alcohol issues. The return rate was 75%. Of the

respondents, 99% were male, average age was 46.7 years (+/- 9.3), and average number of years in practice

was 15.2 (+/- 9.6). A majority of respondents indicated that they did not have training in the abuse

potential of analgesics (92 [69%]), characteristics of benzodiazepine abuse (77 [58%]), or when to

seek the assistance of an addiction medicine specialist for patients with chronic pain (106 [80%]).

Only 41 (31%) of the orthopedists indicated that they inquire about alcohol and drug use before prescribing

opiates for more than a week. We offer suggestions for self-education for interested physicians

SO - Southern Medical Journal 1991;84:1455-145