A new poll suggests more than a third of Canadians say they have no choice but to seek health information online because they don91裸聊视频檛 have access to a doctor, further highlighting challenges posed by an ongoing physician shortage.
The online survey by the Canadian Medical Association and Abacus Data conducted last November found that 37 per cent of respondents used medical advice they found online because they couldn91裸聊视频檛 access a doctor or a medical professional for help.
Twenty-three per cent of those surveyed said following health advice they found online resulted in a bad reaction or had a negative impact on their health.
The survey of 3,727 adult Canadians can91裸聊视频檛 be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.
The CMA says the number of Canadians turning to online sources for medical help emphasizes the lack of accessible health care across the country, as an estimated 6.5 million people 91裸聊视频� one in five Canadians 91裸聊视频� do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly.
CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer called the survey results 91裸聊视频渆xtremely concerning.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭here is no other generation that91裸聊视频檚 been exposed to so much misinformation, but also had to face the hardship of a health-care system that is overtaxed and not meeting their needs,91裸聊视频� Reimer said in a phone interview.
Employment and Social Development Canada says the country currently has fewer doctors per capita than most countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
It says that from 2022 to 2031, the number of job openings for general practitioners and family physicians are expected to total 48,900, while the number of job seekers in this group is expected to total 29,400 91裸聊视频� creating a shortage of almost 20,000 doctors.
The CMA says the shortage can be attributed to several factors. Many family doctors are retiring, and fewer new doctors are choosing family medicine. The association also says more family doctors are focusing on niche services rather than general care.
Reimer also pointed to doctor burnout as a major challenge facing the health-care system.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen it quite as bad as it is right now when it comes to both access to care, but also burnout that we91裸聊视频檙e seeing amongst our physician colleagues,91裸聊视频� said Reimer. 91裸聊视频淚 know we can get things going in a better way for Canadians and for the people who work in the health system, but it91裸聊视频檚 hard not to feel discouraged.91裸聊视频�
The CMA survey also found that 42 per cent of respondents have tried medical advice they found online, and 31 per cent had taken online medical advice instead of advice received from a doctor or other medical professional.
Reimer added that the survey91裸聊视频檚 findings are especially concerning given how easily health misinformation can spread online.
91裸聊视频淚 know that our physicians feel passionate about being able to provide information to their patients, so I do want people to feel comfortable asking questions to their doctor,91裸聊视频� said Reimer. 91裸聊视频淭hat is absolutely what we91裸聊视频檙e here for and what we want to be there for.91裸聊视频�
But for Canadians who don91裸聊视频檛 have access to a doctor or can91裸聊视频檛 see one in a timely way, Reimer said if they are seeking information online they should look to trusted sources such as the Public Health Agency of Canada or other organizations led by health professionals.
Reimer said the issue could be addressed with a more integrated health-care system that91裸聊视频檚 accessible to everyone. This could mean pharmacists, nurses, doctors and social workers working together to share information with patients and make accessing health care easier, she said.
91裸聊视频淲hen people don91裸聊视频檛 have access to those trusted relationships with health-care providers, they91裸聊视频檙e going to go online to get that information,91裸聊视频� she said.
