On 2018 Jan 22, Nicholas Lawson commented:

Authors' claims are not supported by their results. Authors do not acknowledge some of the most common criticisms of the studies in their review:

(1) Physician health program (PHP) data may be suspect because PHPs benefit from presenting a rosy picture of their effectiveness.

(2) Self-reports from those being evaluated by PHPs, who have much to lose from responding to surveys in ways that criticize these programs, may not be reliable.

(3) There are considerable reasons to doubt that "programme completion," "return to practice," and "no relapse/recurrence" reflect treatment efficacy. Unwarranted referrals may also result in coerced treatment for physicians who do not have a substance use disorder or problematic performance.

(4) There are no comparisons to those who were not referred for PHP treatment.

Other concerns related to PHP treatment are addressed in "Do state physician health programs encourage referrals that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act?"

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1WL2XaR~~IVy0

On 2018 Jan 22, Nicholas Lawson commented:

Authors' claims are not supported by their results. Authors do not acknowledge some of the most common criticisms of the studies in their review:

(1) Physician health program (PHP) data may be suspect because PHPs benefit from presenting a rosy picture of their effectiveness.

(2) Self-reports from those being evaluated by PHPs, who have much to lose from responding to surveys in ways that criticize these programs, may not be reliable.

(3) There are considerable reasons to doubt that "programme completion," "return to practice," and "no relapse/recurrence" reflect treatment efficacy. Unwarranted referrals may also result in coerced treatment for physicians who do not have a substance use disorder or problematic performance.

(4) There are no comparisons to those who were not referred for PHP treatment.

Other concerns related to PHP treatment are addressed in "Do state physician health programs encourage referrals that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act?"

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1WL2XaR~~IVy0