New Poll: During a pandemic public health crisis, Canadians want family doctors to be there for them

Yet survey of family doctors shows only 20% feel the required supports are in place to enable them to handle such an emergency

(Vancouver, December 9, 2005) -

Two new surveys released today by The College of Family Physicians of Canada show that a majority of Canadians (86%) say that when faced with a pandemic flu or natural disaster it’s important that they are able to turn to their family doctor.  Yet only 20% of family doctors feel the supports are in place to handle such an emergency.

Released as part of Family Doctor Week, the parallel surveys explored issues of emergency preparedness with Canadians and family doctors.  Past events such as SARS, E. coli in Walkerton, Hurricane Katrina and 9-11 have demonstrated that family doctors are on the frontlines when public health crises unfold.

“Family doctors are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to help their patients,” says Dr. Alain Pavilanis, President of the CFPC.  “However, the polling data reveal family doctors don’t believe the supports are in place to enable them to do the best job on behalf of their patients.”

The survey results point to a disconnect between Canadians’ needs during a crisis and their family physician’s capacity to care for them.  On the one hand, 68% of Canadians believe the risk of a public health emergency such as a pandemic flu, is real and 86% want their family doctor to be there for them in such an event.  On the other hand, the survey of family doctors shows only 20% say the supports are in place to help them to handle such a situation today and only 26% are confident that the information, equipment, supplies and personnel they would need would be available to them if they really faced a public health emergency.

“A public health emergency can create incredible pressures on the health care system,” says Dr. Louise Nasmith, President-elect of the CFPC.  “As the demand rises for health care services, the thin ranks of health professionals will be stretched even further with increased demands on their services and increased exposure to serious illness.  Some of them might even be confined to their homes when they get sick themselves.”

The College believes that addressing the shortages of family doctors and of other health care professionals is necessary to build surge capacity into the system for when it is needed most. 

Eighty-four per cent of Canadians believe the shortage of family doctors could impact the ability of the health care system to respond to the medical needs of Canadians during a public health emergency.  Eighty-five per cent of family doctors believe the same.  Canadians and their family doctors are in agreement that the shortage of family doctors could expose weaknesses when the health care system is most vulnerable – namely, during a public health emergency. 

“Our most recent experience with a public health emergency in Canada was during the SARS outbreak in Ontario,” says Dr. Calvin Gutkin, Chief Executive Officer of the CFPC.  “SARS taught us that family doctors play an essential role on the frontlines.  The majority of patients with symptoms seek attention first from their family doctor.  SARS taught us that without the system supports they need, family doctors and their patients are vulnerable.”

“Public health emergency planning is an election issue.  Each party must demonstrate to the people of Canada that it has a plan to deal with a public health crisis.  Canadians need to know that our political leaders will make this a priority.”

Both Canadians and family doctors believe more emergency planning needs to be done.  A majority of both groups would like to see more support and action from government.  For instance, 62 per cent of Canadians do not believe governments are doing enough to ensure the health care system is prepared to respond to a public health emergency such as a widespread flu outbreak or natural disaster.  And 53 per cent of family doctors are not satisfied that all levels of government are working well together to ensure the health care system is prepared to respond to an emergency.

The College believes it is imperative the following items be addressed to ensure family doctors have the confidence and ability to handle any future emergency. (A complete listing of recommendations is found in the CFPC’s paper The Role of the Family Doctor in Public Health and Emergency Preparedness, also released today).

1. Governments should fully engage family doctors in their public health emergency planning processes;
2. Procedures should be established for the fast and efficient deployment of required supplies to family doctors during a public health crisis;
3. Local hotline numbers and websites should be established for family doctors to get up-to-date patient care information regarding unfolding crises;
4. Collaboration between family doctors and public health should be increased to ensure adequate, coordinated emergency responses;
5. There should be an increased focus on the ongoing education of family doctors related to public health emergencies; and,
6. Governments and medical schools should make certain an adequate number of family doctors are produced and recruited to ensure the surge capacity required by the system in the event of a public health emergency.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is the voice of family medicine in Canada. Representing 17,800 members across the country, it is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification, and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of family medicine, family physicians and their patients. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada’s 17 medical schools.

Survey Information:
The survey of 2000 adult Canadians was conducted by Decima Research between October 13 and 24 of this year. The research is considered accurate +/- 2.2%, 19 times out of 20.The survey of members of The College of Family Physicians of Canada was conducted between October 17 and October 31 of this year.  It is considered accurate +/- 3.7%, 19 times out of 20.

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