Interprofessional care

The 2004 National Physician Survey (NPS) asked FPs to indicate the kinds of health care providers with whom they shared patient care within their main patient care setting. Nationally, 87% of FPs shared care with other FPs, 48% of FPs shared care with nurses, and 40% of FPs shared care with other specialists. Family physicians also shared care with dieticians (28%), pharmacists (26%), social workers (25%), and physiotherapists (25%). A smaller number of FPs shared care with psychologists (21%), occupational therapists (16%), and nurse practitioners (14%).

More female than male FPs shared care with the following health care providers: other FPs, nurse practitioners, nurses, dieticians, psychologists, and social workers (P < .001); and occupational therapists (P < .05). More male FPs than female FPs shared care with other specialists (P < .05). There was no difference in the proportion of male and female FPs sharing care with physiotherapists or pharmacists.

One third (33.6%) of FPs indicated that they shared care with 1 of the 10 types of health care providers listed above. Overall, 36.1% of FPs shared care with 2 to 4 of the 10 kinds of health care providers. This was more likely the case among female FPs than male FPs, and younger FPs than older FPs (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Family physicians sharing care with different kinds of health care providers*

* The 10 different kinds of health care providers were other FPs, other specialists, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners.

The analysis is based on the 88% of FP respondents (n = 9666) who indicated that they provided patient care, in addition to indicating the different kinds of health care providers with whom they shared patient care.

Results from the 2007 NPS will be available in the fall of 2007 at www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca and will provide further detail regarding whether FPs regularly collaborate with a more extensive list of health care providers, and whether that collaboration is part of a formal arrangement.

The NPS is a collaborative project of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. If you would like the opportunity to develop and write a future Fast Fact using the NPS results, please contact Sarah Scott, National Physician Survey and Janus Project Coordinator, at 800 387–6197, extension 289, or sks{at}cfpc.ca.