RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Family physicians and health advocacy JF Canadian Family Physician JO Can Fam Physician FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada SP 491 OP 496 VO 65 IS 7 A1 Carrie Bernard A1 Sophie Soklaridis A1 Morag Paton A1 Kenneth Fung A1 Mark Fefergrad A1 Lisa Andermann A1 Andrew Johnson A1 Genevieve Ferguson A1 Karl Iglar A1 Cynthia R. Whitehead YR 2019 UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/7/491.abstract AB Objective To examine whether family medicine residents and faculty members appreciate the full spectrum of health advocacy as described in articles published in Canadian Family Physician in 2016 and to identify the perceived challenges and enablers of advocating across the entire spectrum.Design Analysis of a subset of data from a qualitative study using semistructured interviews and focus groups.Setting University of Toronto in Ontario.Participants A total of 9 family medicine faculty members and 6 family medicine residents.Methods A subset of transcripts from a 2015 qualitative study that explored family medicine and psychiatry residents’ and faculty members’ understanding of the CanMEDS–Family Medicine health advocate role were reviewed, guided by interpretive descriptive methodology.Main findings Results indicated that family medicine physicians and residents were able to identify the full spectrum of advocacy described in the Canadian Family Physician articles and that they valued the role. Further, there was widespread agreement that being a health advocate was linked with their identities as health professionals. The time it takes to be a health advocate was seen as a barrier to being effective in the role, and the work was seen as extremely challenging owing to system constraints. Participants also described a gap in training relating to advocacy at the system level as a challenge.Conclusion Team-based care was seen as one of the most important enablers for becoming involved in the full spectrum of advocacy, as was time for personal reflection.