P Laure1, C Binsinger, T Lecerf. 1. Laboratoire de Psychologie Appliquée Stress et Société, Université de Reims, Bât 6, Moulin de La Housse, 51687 Reims Cedex 2, France. patrick.laure@wanadoo.fr
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the attitudes to, and knowledge of, doping in sport of French general practitioners (GPs), and their contact with drug taking athletes on an everyday basis. METHODS: A total of 402 GPs were randomly selected from all over France and interviewed by telephone, using a prepared script. RESULTS: The response rate was 50.5% (153 men and 49 women; mean (SD) age 45.6 (5.6) years). Of the respondents, 73% confirmed that they had the list of banned products, and only 34.5% stated that they were aware of the latest French law, brought into effect in March 1999, concerning the fight against doping. Some 11% had directly encountered a request for prescription of doping agents over the preceding 12 months (the requested substances were mainly anabolic steroids, stimulants, and corticosteroids), and 10% had been consulted by an athlete who was using doping drugs and was frightened of the health risks (the substances used were mainly anabolic steroids). Over half (52%) of the GPs favoured the prescription of drug substitutions to athletes who used doping agents. According to 87.5% of respondents, doping is a public health problem, and 80% stated that doping is a form of drug addiction. Most (89%) said that a GP has a role to play in doping prevention, but 77% considered themselves poorly prepared to participate in its prevention. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that (a) GPs have limited knowledge of doping and (b) are confronted with doping in their daily practice, at least occasionally.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the attitudes to, and knowledge of, doping in sport of French general practitioners (GPs), and their contact with drug taking athletes on an everyday basis. METHODS: A total of 402 GPs were randomly selected from all over France and interviewed by telephone, using a prepared script. RESULTS: The response rate was 50.5% (153 men and 49 women; mean (SD) age 45.6 (5.6) years). Of the respondents, 73% confirmed that they had the list of banned products, and only 34.5% stated that they were aware of the latest French law, brought into effect in March 1999, concerning the fight against doping. Some 11% had directly encountered a request for prescription of doping agents over the preceding 12 months (the requested substances were mainly anabolic steroids, stimulants, and corticosteroids), and 10% had been consulted by an athlete who was using doping drugs and was frightened of the health risks (the substances used were mainly anabolic steroids). Over half (52%) of the GPs favoured the prescription of drug substitutions to athletes who used doping agents. According to 87.5% of respondents, doping is a public health problem, and 80% stated that doping is a form of drug addiction. Most (89%) said that a GP has a role to play in doping prevention, but 77% considered themselves poorly prepared to participate in its prevention. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that (a) GPs have limited knowledge of doping and (b) are confronted with doping in their daily practice, at least occasionally.
Authors: W Lowenstein; P Arvers; L Gourarier; A S Porche; J M Cohen; F Nordmann; B Prevot; C Carrier; M Sanchez Journal: Ann Med Interne (Paris) Date: 2000-04
Authors: Karin Vitzthum; Stefanie Mache; David Quarcoo; David A Groneberg; Norman Schöffel Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 1.704