Medical care of doctors.

AIM

To describe doctors' attitudes towards their own medical care.

METHODS

Postal survey asking 2564 doctors about their access to, and use of, medical services. The sample, 14% of all New South Wales doctors, was randomly selected from the NSW Register of Medical Practitioners. To ensure anonymity, non-respondents were not followed up.

RESULTS

The response rate was 44%. Only 42% of respondents had a general practitioner and most had self-prescribed medication. Nineteen per cent reported marital disturbances, 18% emotional disorders, 3% alcohol problems and 1% drug abuse, but not many had discussed these problems with their doctor. Twenty-six per cent had a condition warranting a medical consultation but felt inhibited about consulting a doctor.

CONCLUSION

Many doctors lack adequate medical care.

RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend that doctors have their own general practitioner, avoid "corridor consultations" and not self-prescribe drugs that affect mental function. Teaching of appropriate help-seeking responses should be part of medical education.