[Developing public health--primary care interfaces in Quebec: a case study]

Public health agencies (PH) have various functions. One of them is to develop initiatives that will help decrease health inequalities among different groups in the population. To reach vulnerable groups, PHs must establish interfaces with various players, including primary care clinicians (PCC). Through a qualitative analysis, this case study identifies the organizational factors that either help or hinder the establishment of a functional interface in an area of the Quebec City region. Findings indicate that PHs must first undertake specific strategies to implement a new paradigm (such as the population perspective) among clinicians before introducing structural changes for developing and formalizing PH-PCC interfaces.