The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dyer, Robert | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Nejthardt, Marcin | |
| dc.contributor.author | van Der Westhuizen, Justine | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-03-03T01:58:49Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-03-03T01:58:49Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-03-02T16:15:09Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Substance abuse has twice the mortality in United States anaesthesia- than non-anaesthesia residents. Since no data exist, the primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to establish the prevalence of substance use in South African anaesthesia practitioners. Secondary objectives were to compare the prevalence in male and female practitioners, and in private- and state practice anaesthetists. Years of experience and level of training were explored as possible risk factors for hazardous or harmful use. Method: Participants completed a self-administered, validated WHO questionnaire, run for ten days surrounding the 2018 South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA) congress. All doctors practicing anaesthesia in South Africa were eligible. Recruitment was via an email link sent to all SASA members, as well as a web-based link at the congress. Results: A total of 1961 SASA members and 113 non-members (anaesthesiologists, registrars and non-specialists) were invited to participate (total 2074). There were 434 responses (response rate 20.9%, margin of error 4.18%); 364 were suitable for analysis. The most commonly lifetime-used substances were alcohol (92.8%), tobacco (42.3%), cannabis (34.7%), and sedatives (34.4%). Questionnaire scores defined low-, medium- and high-risk categories according to substance use during the previous 3 months. Sedative (12.6%) and alcohol (12.1%) users were deemed to be at moderate risk. The prevalence of opioid use was 1.9% (n=7). Prevalence of substance use was similar in male and female practitioners, as well as in those working in private practice or in state hospitals. Conclusion: The prevalence of current use of alcohol and sedatives is of major concern. A significant proportion of respondents were assessed to be at moderate risk of hazardous or harmful substance use. Gender and practice setting have little impact on substance use. Wellness efforts should be aimed at all anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | van Der Westhuizen, J. (2020). <i>The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | van Der Westhuizen, Justine. <i>"The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | van Der Westhuizen, J. 2020. The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Master Thesis AU - van Der Westhuizen, Justine AB - Introduction: Substance abuse has twice the mortality in United States anaesthesia- than non-anaesthesia residents. Since no data exist, the primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to establish the prevalence of substance use in South African anaesthesia practitioners. Secondary objectives were to compare the prevalence in male and female practitioners, and in private- and state practice anaesthetists. Years of experience and level of training were explored as possible risk factors for hazardous or harmful use. Method: Participants completed a self-administered, validated WHO questionnaire, run for ten days surrounding the 2018 South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA) congress. All doctors practicing anaesthesia in South Africa were eligible. Recruitment was via an email link sent to all SASA members, as well as a web-based link at the congress. Results: A total of 1961 SASA members and 113 non-members (anaesthesiologists, registrars and non-specialists) were invited to participate (total 2074). There were 434 responses (response rate 20.9%, margin of error 4.18%); 364 were suitable for analysis. The most commonly lifetime-used substances were alcohol (92.8%), tobacco (42.3%), cannabis (34.7%), and sedatives (34.4%). Questionnaire scores defined low-, medium- and high-risk categories according to substance use during the previous 3 months. Sedative (12.6%) and alcohol (12.1%) users were deemed to be at moderate risk. The prevalence of opioid use was 1.9% (n=7). Prevalence of substance use was similar in male and female practitioners, as well as in those working in private practice or in state hospitals. Conclusion: The prevalence of current use of alcohol and sedatives is of major concern. A significant proportion of respondents were assessed to be at moderate risk of hazardous or harmful substance use. Gender and practice setting have little impact on substance use. Wellness efforts should be aimed at all anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa. DA - 2020_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Anaesthesia LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2020 T1 - The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa TI - The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | van Der Westhuizen J. The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, 2020 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33087 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | |
| dc.subject | Anaesthesia | |
| dc.title | The prevalence of substance use in anaesthesia practitioners in South Africa | |
| dc.type | Master Thesis | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MMed |