CURRENT HEALTH-POLICY INITIATIVES AND OPTIONS - NEW-TO-PRACTICE FAMILY PHYSICIANS ATTITUDES

OBJECTIVE To obtain information about new-to-practice family physician s' attitudes toward current health policy options and initiatives. DES 1GN Cross-sectional, mailed survey. SETTING Ontario family practices. PARTICIPANTS Residency-trained Ontario family physicians (395 of 564 e ligible physicians replied) who were certified between 1989 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Extent of approval or disapproval for 14 health policy options and initiatives. RESULTS A 70% response rate was achiev ed. More than half of surveyed physicians expressed approval for shift ing resources from acute care into preventive care and health promotio n (71.6% approved), stricter immigration requirements to limit licensi ng of foreign physicians in Canada (60.4%), offering physicians salari es as an alternative to fee-for-service (54.0%). and incentives to phy sicians who wish to practise in community health centres or other form s of salaried group practice (51.1%). Some diversity of opinion was as sociated with sex type of practice primary source of remuneration, and practice location. CONCLUSIONS These new-to-practice family physician s display diverse views and should not he seen as sharing a single opi nion of health care policy options and initiatives. Many aporove of ch anges to the health care system or are willing to consider policy alte rnatives.