Joanna Bates1, Rodney Andrew. 1. St Paul's Hospital, Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine how a cohort of family practice residents graduating between 1990 and 1997 was serving the needs of urban populations in British Columbia. DESIGN: Survey using mailed questionnaire. SETTING: British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS: All graduates of the British Columbia family practice residency program between 1990 and 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graduates who were currently practising as family physicians and providing medical care to urban and inner-city populations of more than 100 000, sex, practice profiles, and a comparison with Janus Project data for British Columbia. RESULTS: Of 287 graduates surveyed, 206 responded (71.8%). Less than half (86) identified themselves as practising in urban settings; 61 of those were practising as family physicians. These physicians offered a range of primary care services; many offered inpatient and obstetric care. In addition, many were offering care to disadvantaged inner-city populations with unique and challenging medical problems. CONCLUSION: Recent graduates in family medicine practising in urban and inner-city areas are offering full-service primary care and are not abandoning it for more episodic high-volume medical practice.
OBJECTIVE: To determine how a cohort of family practice residents graduating between 1990 and 1997 was serving the needs of urban populations in British Columbia. DESIGN: Survey using mailed questionnaire. SETTING:British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS: All graduates of the British Columbia family practice residency program between 1990 and 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graduates who were currently practising as family physicians and providing medical care to urban and inner-city populations of more than 100 000, sex, practice profiles, and a comparison with Janus Project data for British Columbia. RESULTS: Of 287 graduates surveyed, 206 responded (71.8%). Less than half (86) identified themselves as practising in urban settings; 61 of those were practising as family physicians. These physicians offered a range of primary care services; many offered inpatient and obstetric care. In addition, many were offering care to disadvantaged inner-city populations with unique and challenging medical problems. CONCLUSION: Recent graduates in family medicine practising in urban and inner-city areas are offering full-service primary care and are not abandoning it for more episodic high-volume medical practice.