Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are based on pathophysiological mechanisms common to all psychoactive substances. However, general practitioners (GPs) hold different views depending on the substance in question.
Objectives: To determine whether the perceptions that teaching GPs and final-year residents in general practice have of patients with a SUD vary according to the substance involved and explore their professional responsibility and management experiences.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out by asking residents and teaching GPs from eight faculties of medicine about their perceptions, professional responsibility and management experience of patients with tobacco, alcohol and opioid use disorders, using an online questionnaire between June and September 2017.
Results: The responses of 238 teaching GPs (mean age 50 years SD 3.5; 58% men) and 327 residents (mean age 28 years SD 9.9; 67% women) were analysed (response rates: 9 and 15% respectively). Tobacco smokers were considered to be more responsible for their acts than the other users. Teaching GPs and residents considered that it was their responsibility to discuss substance use. They did not feel able to manage alcohol and opioid use disorders. Tobacco cessation was mainly managed alone (78%). The results were quite similar among teaching GPs and residents.
Conclusion: The majority of practitioners had no difficulty managing smoking cessation. During the management of alcohol and particularly opioid use disorders, practitioners did not feel competent. The gap between their perceived responsibility and competencies should be addressed by training and promoting collaborative care.
Keywords: Substance use disorders; attitudes; general practitioners; practice; residents.