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RESPECT from specialists

Concerns of family physicians

Stanley Varnhagen, MA PhD
Academic Director of Learning Solutions in the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta

Pamela Brett-MacLean, MA PhD
Co-director of the Arts and Humanities in Health and Medicine Program of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta

G. Michael Allan, MD CCFP
Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Health Economics

Olga Szafran, MHSA
Associate Director of the Research Program in Family Medicine at the University of Alberta

Correspondence: Dr Donna Manca, 901 College Plaza, 8215-112 St, Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8; telephone 780 492-8102; fax 780 492-2593; e-maildmanca{at}planet.eon.net

OBJECTIVE To explore potential solutions to the challenge of gaining more respect for FPs from other specialists.

DESIGN An original Web-based qualitative survey, from May 27, 2004, to January 5, 2005, involving 5 rounds.

SETTING Province of Alberta.

PARTICIPANTS A sample of 28 Alberta FPs of differing experience, locations, and types of practices.

METHODS Purposeful maximum variation sampling was used to identify a heterogeneous sample of FPs. The Delphi technique was used with an anonymous, iterative, Web-based survey to develop consensus among participating FPs. The first 2 rounds of the survey were designed to generate rich, thick descriptions of the rewards and challenges FPs experienced; the last 3 rounds were designed to refine this information and identify potential solutions and support that key organizations could provide. This information was collapsed into themes using thematic content analysis and reviewed by a working group; with input from the working group we decided to focus our analysis on the challenge of gaining respect from specialists.

MAIN FINDINGS Each round yielded an 86% to 96% response rate, from which 11 key challenges were identified including "respect from specialists." Suggestions of potential solutions to gaining more respect included the need to create and develop relationships between FPs and other specialists and to support each other’s roles; to raise the profile of family medicine in universities and teaching hospitals; to change negative attitudes by promoting the expertise and role of family medicine to others; to demonstrate and maintain a comprehensive skill set; and to address intraprofessional inequities and provide appropriate incentives. Participants suggested roles that organizations could play; for example, universities and medical schools could avoid making negative comments about family practice, reward FPs involved in teaching, and decentralize medical education to provide more experience in community settings and environments that model interactions between specialists and FPs. Organizations could recognize and promote the role that FPs play in the health care system, seek their input into decisions involving primary care, and move toward equitable and fair remuneration.

CONCLUSION Perceived lack of respect toward FPs from some of their specialist colleagues might be reflective of issues that go beyond family physician–specialist interaction. Solutions will likely require the involvement of academic centres and other organizations.

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