Comparing Attitudes to Antipsychotic Drugs Between Doctors and the Public
Author Information
Author(s): Helbling Josef, Ajdacic-Gross Vladeta, Lauber Christoph, Weyermann Ruth, Burns Tom, Rössler Wulf
Primary Institution: Research Unit for Clinical and Social Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
Hypothesis
General practitioners have more positive attitudes towards antipsychotic drugs compared to the general population.
Conclusion
General practitioners are more likely to have positive views on antipsychotic medications and their side effects than the general public.
Supporting Evidence
- 80% of general practitioners assessed the risk of dependency as low, compared to only 18% of the general population.
- General practitioners showed significantly more positive attitudes towards the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs than the general public.
- A majority of general practitioners advised long-term tolerance of side effects, unlike the general population.
Takeaway
Doctors think antipsychotic drugs are helpful and that their side effects are manageable, while many people in the public are more worried about these medications.
Methodology
The study used computer-assisted telephone interviews to compare attitudes of 100 general practitioners and 791 individuals from the general population.
Potential Biases
Respondents' answers could be influenced by social desirability.
Limitations
The sample may be biased as it includes more communicative and cooperative individuals.
Participant Demographics
General practitioners and a representative sample of the Swiss population aged 16 to 76.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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