RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Intrapartum care by general practitioners and family physicians. Provincial trends from 1984-1985 to 1994-1995.
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP 587
OP 592
VO 46
IS 3
A1 J Kaczorowski
A1 C Levitt
YR 2000
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/46/3/587.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE To determine provincial trends in provision of intrapartum care by general practitioners and family physicians (GP/FPs) for the 11 years from 1984 to 1995. DESIGN Analyses of provincial Medical Care Fee-for-Service Utilization data for births from 1984-1985 to 1994-1995. SETTING 10 provinces of Canada. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of vaginal births billed by GP/FPs (expressed as total number of vaginal births billed by GP/FPs divided by total number of vaginal births). RESULTS In 1994-1995, the proportion of vaginal births billed by GP/FPs ranged from 77.2% in British Columbia and 70.8% in Nova Scotia to 28.9% in Ontario and 23.6% in Prince Edward Island. These proportions have remained relatively high and stable during the period studied in some provinces, such as British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and have declined steadily and notably in others. CONCLUSIONS Data show that GP/FPs' involvement in vaginal births in most Canadian provinces is decreasing. This trend demonstrates a shift in GP/FPs' practice patterns and could indicate a coming shortage of obstetrical care providers.