Do you have a family doctor?: a mixed-methods health policy analysis of primary care reform in Canada

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to compare primary care accessibility across the provinces and to identify the key ideas, institutions and interests that have contributed to the formation of primary care policy reform. First, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine if there was a difference in accessibility across the provinces as measured by whether or not respondents had a “regular medical doctor” (n = 115,220). Second, a documentary analysis was conducted of publicly available primary health care policy literature published from 2000 – 2013 (n = 103). Differences in accessibility were observed, suggesting that provincial primary care policies directly affect residents’ access to primary care. Ontario residents had the best access to primary care of the 10 provinces. The ideas, institutions and interests identified at the national level have produced somewhat different outcomes for primary care reform in the provinces, as provincial priorities make national goals concrete.