Accessibility of drugs and use of warning systems

Figure 1. Family physicians rating patients’ access to drugs and appliances as fair or poor by urban or rural patient populations in various provinces or territories

Figure 1

Family physicians rating patients’ access to drugs and appliances as fair or poor by urban or rural patient populations in various provinces or territories

*Numbers are too small in Prince Edward Island and the territories to compare access for urban and rural patient populations. Thirty-eight percent of family physicians in Prince Edward Island and 11% in the territories rated the accessibility of drugs and appliances for their patients as fair or poor.

Nationally, 21% of family physicians rated the accessibility of drugs and appliances for their patients as fair or poor. Figure 1 denotes interprovincial or inter-territorial variability as well as intraprovincial or intra-territorial variability based on whether the patient population served is urban or rural.
A 6-point accessibility rating scale was used: excellent, very good, good, fair, poor, not applicable. The interpretation of “drugs and appliances” was left to respondents. Respondents also defined “urban (urban or suburban)” and “rural (rural or remote)” patient populations for themselves.

Figure 2. Family physicians using electronic warning systems for adverse prescribing or drug interactions

Figure 2

Family physicians using electronic warning systems for adverse prescribing or drug interactions

Nationally, 14% of family physicians used electronic warning systems to prevent adverse events and drug interactions. Figure 2 denotes provincial or territorial variability.

Data for Figures 1 and 2 are from the 2004 National Physician Survey (NPS) database. By completing your 2007 NPS (sent to all physicians in Canada in January 2007—please check your mail and e-mail), you will provide current data to update these drug findings. Detailed national, provincial, and territorial analyses of the 2004 NPS results are available on the NPS website at www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca.

If you would like the opportunity to develop and write a future Fast Fact using the 2004 NPS results, please contact Sarah Scott, National Physician Survey and Janus Project Coordinator, College of Family Physicians of Canada; telephone 800 387–6197, extension 289; e-mail sks{at}cfpc.ca.