Managing the care of patients with mental retardation: a survey of physicians.

A questionnaire regarding the clinical management of patients with mental retardation living in the community was mailed to a 50% random sample of physicians practicing in Maine; the response rate was 56%. Almost 80% of respondents reported that they were currently providing care to patients with mental retardation. Survey results identified the major issues confronting physicians treating such patients and quantitatively assessed their importance from the physicians' perspective. Inadequate medical information was identified as the greatest obstacle to patient care. Physicians' ratings of the utility of specific measures designed to lessen these obstacles were presented. Generally, continuing education was viewed as less useful than practice support measures.