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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Amardeep Thind, MD, PhD, Cathy Thorpe, MA, Andrea Burt, MA, and Moira Stewart, PhD. Center for Studies in Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario, 245 - 100 Collip Circle, London, ON N6G 4X8, Canada, 519-858-5028, athind2@uwo.ca

Waiting times are a reality in Canada's publicly financed single-payer health care system. While there is ample data about waiting times for specialized investigations and procedures, little data exists about waiting times to see family physicians, and determinants of this wait. We analyzed data from a survey conducted in 2004 of 731 family physicians in Southwestern Ontario to answer these questions: (1) What is the waiting time for a family physician consultation in Southwestern Ontario? and (2) What are the physician and practice determinants of this waiting time? Regression modelling of waiting times indicates that physician gender, usual number of patients seen per week, involvement in teaching, and population served are the key determinants of this waiting time. As policymakers begin to address the waiting time issue, they need to be cognizant of waiting times across the treatment spectrum, and not focus exclusively on specialist wait times.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the learner will

• understand the major problems facing Canada's publicly financed health care system;
• identify the reasons for waiting times to see a family physician; and
• begin to frame policy responses to address this issue.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No