Résultats d’un sondage auprès des médecins de famille

Physician well-being is a crucial element not only for the practice of family medicine but also for the performance of the health care system. Family medicine in Quebec faces major challenges, including declining retention, a shortage of family physicians, and a lack of attractiveness of the profession. In 2023, the Table nationale de concertation sur la valorisation de la médecine de famille was established with the mandate to develop a plan to bring together all measures needed to enhance the value of family medicine practice and ensure their coordination.

This study stems from a collaboration between the research team and the Table’s monitoring committee. A cross-sectional survey sent to the 10,591 family physicians practising in Quebec between December 2023 and July 2024 was used to provide a portrait of the state of well-being and job satisfaction among family physicians practising in Quebec and examine the factors associated with their well-being. A total of 1,252 respondents were included in the study.

The analyses show that more than half of physicians (62.5%) were at risk of distress. The survey identified the following factors as being statistically associated with the well-being of family doctors in Quebec, in order of importance: work–life balance followed by a sense of fulfillment in the role of family physician, exposure to unreasonable expectations or verbal abuse from patients, satisfaction with human resources, and lack of awareness of initiatives aimed at improving physicians well-being.

By clearly identifying these key factors, the study paves the way for identifying priority levers that can improve physicians working conditions, professional satisfaction, and, ultimately, the performance of the health care system.