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The Canadian Psychiatric Association practice profile survey: I. Methods and general sample characteristics
Elizabeth Lin1, D Blake Woodside, Anne Rhodes
1Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Clarke Site, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario. elizabeth_lin@camh.net
Objective:
To describe the rationale, methodology, and general sample characteristics of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) practice profile survey, a national survey of psychiatrists and psychiatric practice.
Method:
Mail-in interviews were sent to all Canadian psychiatrists listed in their provincial registers and to all active CPA members (total = 3628). Respondents provided general information about their professional activities for one 24-hour day and detailed information for 1 randomly selected hour. Patient information--including sociodemographics, diagnostic profiles, functioning levels, risk of harm to self or others, and disposition--was elicited for 1 patient seen during the random hour as well as for the most seriously ill patient receiving clinical services that day.
Results:
There was a 45.5% response rate. Questionnaires completed by nonpsychiatrists or with a large percentage of missing or incorrect data were eliminated (107 surveys), resulting in a final sample size of 1570. CPA members and those from Western Canada responded at a higher rate to the survey. The results suggest some cause for concern about future manpower shortages. Most psychiatrists practise eclectically, seeing patients across the life-span, and working in both community and institutional settings. The old and the young appear to be underserviced, compared with adults.
Conclusions:
This study represents an important step forward in evaluating the profile and activities of the profession.