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Table 5 Why do you refuse care for methadone treatment patients (general practitioners with no patients on methadone substitution treatment) (PWTs) (n = 231)

From: Difficulties associated with outpatient management of drug abusers by general practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners with and without methadone patients in Switzerland

Question

yes

Non-compliant patients

59.7%

A specialized center is better

57.1%

Time-consuming

54.5%

Lack of specialized training

52.4%

Fear of being overwhelmed by drug-addicted patients

48.9%

Feeling of powerlessness toward drug-addicted patients

41.6%

Difficulties with authorizations (too much paperwork)

40.3%

Lack of reimbursement for medical care

38.1%

Management with other professionals too difficult

38.1%

Difficulties with accompanying psychiatric disorders

36.4%

Fear of manipulation by drug-addicted patients

33.3%

Lack of knowledge about illegal substances and medications

31.2%

Past experience of burnout with drug-addicted patients

29.4%

Fear of theft

28.1%

Fear of problems with other, non-drug-addicted patients

27.7%

Fear of being threatened in the office

24.7%

Fear of being considered "the drug-addict doctor"

11.7%

Existing centers are adequate for this population

11.3%

  1. PWT = General practitioners without patients receiving methadone substitution treatment