ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR PATIENTS

Aims. To examine attitudes toward sexual contact with patients includi ng seductive and sexually demeaning verbal behaviour. Methods. Anonymo us questionnaire mailed to a nationwide randomised sample of 217 gener al practitioners. A response rate of 88% was obtained. Main outcomes m easures. Attitudes were appraised through responses about the acceptab ility of sexual contact with current and former patients. Knowledge of colleagues engaging in sexual contact, seductive or sexually demeanin g behaviour was also assessed. Disposition toward reporting colleagues was explored. Results. Ninety per cent of general practitioners indic ated that it was never permissible to have sexual contact with a curre nt patient. Twenty per cent agreed that it was never permissible to ha ve sexual contact with a patient even when treatment had been terminat ed. While only 4% and 6% respectively knew of a general practitioner w ho had engaged in seductive or sexually demeaning verbal behaviour, 32 % had personally known of a colleague who had engaged in sexual contac t with a patient. Participants were divided in their attitudes toward reporting colleagues for sexual misdemeanours with patients. Conclusio n. The results have implications for the development of guidelines and the training of general practitioners.