Changes in Family Physicians Over Time in Alberta, Canada: A 16-Year Population-Based Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Most studies evaluating access to primary care have focused on changes in family physicians (FPs), with less exploration of patient differences over time. We examined both physicians and patients, including changes over time in the age and medical complexity of people seeing FPs.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study using administrative health data, including physician claims and hospital data, examining patients cared for by FPs providing comprehensive primary care from 2004 to 2020 in Alberta, Canada. We assessed changes in FPs and used validated algorithms to examine changes in comorbidity among adults cared for by those physicians.

Results

There were notable changes in FPs over time including more physicians who were women (46.7% in 2020 vs

SUBMITTER: Manns BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12459692 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature