SURVEY ON THE TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA BY FA MILY PHYSICIANS

OBJECTIVES To describe treatment of insomnia in general practice and t o identify family physicians' training needs in this area. DESIGN Mail survey using Dillman's total design method, PARTICIPANTS A sampling o f 484 general practitioners in the Quebec City area was done to provid e roughly equal representation of six practice settings. The response rate was 65%; 295 of the 315 questionnaires returned were selected for analysis. RESULTS Most physicians reported treating insomnia with gen eral advice and lifestyle changes; 25% reported prescribing hypnotics frequently; 56% reported they prescribed them occasionally. Although 5 8% often recommended relaxation techniques, only 8% taught these techn iques to their patients. Other cognitive and behavioral approaches are rarely used. Most felt that training in treating insomnia should be o ffered. CONCLUSION Cognitive and behavioral approaches are very effect ive nonpharmacological treatments for insomnia. General practitioners make little use of these treatments that could be easily integrated in to clinical practice. Strategies for increasing their use are discusse d.