The practices of French general practitioners regarding screening and counselling pregnant women for tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking

Objectives Our study aims to describe French general practitioners’ (GPs’) practices toward pregnant patients regarding alcohol consumption and smoking and to highlight factors associated with specific practices. Methods In 2015, a representative sample of 1414 French GPs completed a telephone survey based on a stratified random sampling. Results 61% of GPs declared screening for alcohol use and 82% for smoking at least once with each pregnant patient; quitting was not systematically advised either for alcohol or for smoking. GPs’ practices were significantly better among those who had more recent ongoing training. GPs who drank regularly were less likely to screen for alcohol use and GPs’ drinking frequency was inversely related to recommending quitting. Current and former smokers were less likely to recommend quitting to pregnant patients smoking over five cigarettes per day. Conclusions Screening and counselling practices for substance use during pregnancy are heterogeneous among French GPs and are notably related to their personal consumption. GP’s role in preventing substance use during pregnancy could be strengthened by actions regarding their own consumption and by modifications in their initial and ongoing training.