Understanding issues in primary care: perspectives of primary care physicians

Authors: Oelke, Nelly D.; Thurston, Wilfreda E.; Dipalma, Remo; Tink, Wendy; Mazonde, Josephine N.; Mak, Allan; Armitage, Gail D.

Source: Quality in Primary Care, Volume 14, Number 4, December 2006 , pp. 253-258(6)

Publisher: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd.

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Abstract:

Objective To explore and describe the perceptions of family physicians in a large urban centre regarding issues in primary care and to identify those issues that would impact provision of care in a primary care setting.

Design Cross-sectional survey using interviews.

Setting Urban centre in western Canada.

Participants Eighty-two family physicians located in the central core of a large urban centre.

Method Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were used to collect and analyse the data.

Main findings Physicians identified a number of interrelated issues in community family practice including high overheads, time, lifestyle and family commitments, staffing issues, lack of communication among providers and between providers and the health region, and technology. These issues impacted their quality of work life, causing a sense of being overwhelmed, frustrated, isolated, powerless and disillusioned. The participants recommended changes that would benefit their practices, family medicine, and primary care reform.

Conclusion Family practice is at a crossroads and new models of team-based care and alternative funding strategies are the preferred methods of implementing primary care reform.

Keywords: FAMILY MEDICINE; INTERPROFESSIONAL AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTH CAR; PRIMARY CARE; PRIMARY CARE REFORM

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Publication date: 2006-12-01

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