MANAGING THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION - A SURVEY OF PHYSICIANS

A questionnaire regarding the clinical management of patients with men tal retardation living in the community was mailed to a 50% random sam ple of physicians practicing in Maine; the response rate was 56%. Almo st 80% of respondents reported that they were currently providing care to patients with mental retardation. Survey results identified the ma jor issues confronting physicians treating such patients and quantitat ively assessed their importance from the physicians' perspective. Inad equate medical information was identified as the greatest obstacle to patient care. Physicians' ratings of the utility of specific measures designed to lessen these obstacles were presented. Generally, continui ng education was viewed as less useful than practice support measures.