Assessment of family physicians' knowledge and awareness regarding the management of patients who use tobacco, alcohol, and other substances

Fidan, S. Assessment of Family Physicians' Knowledge and Awareness Regarding the Management of Patients Who Use Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Substances. Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Medical Speciality Thesis in Department of Family Medicine, Eskişehir, 2025. This study was conducted between Octaber 1, 2024, and February15, 2024, with 285 family physicians working at Family Health Centers (FHCs) and the Family Medicine outpatient clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGÜ) in Eskişehir, Turkey. The study aimed to evaluate family physicians' knowledge and awareness regarding the management of patients who use tobacco, alcohol, and other substances. Within this scope, physicians' knowledge levels about tobacco/alcohol/substance use disorders, their attitudes toward these disorders, their self-confidence in diagnosing and treating such disorders, and their attitudes toward factors promoting early intervention were assessed. In addition, demographic characteristics, working conditions, training related to addiction, practices of inquiring about substance use during consultations, experience in encountering and referring addicted individuals, and their knowledge about Yeşilay Danışmanlık Merkezi (YEDAM) were analyzed using the chi-square test. The findings indicated that family physicians had limited knowledge concerning tobacco, alcohol, and substance use disorders, and a lack of practical experience in addiction management was identified as a significant issue. Although the majority of family physicians reported screening for addiction during consultations, referral and follow-up practices were found to be insufficient. The study concluded that there is a need to strengthen education on addiction and inter-institutional coordination. In this context, it was emphasized that developing comprehensive training and implementation support is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of addiction management in primary healthcare services.