Pan-Canadian study of psychiatric care (PCPC): protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Psychiatry Workforce Analysis
• Health Policy

Background:

• Canadian psychiatric care access is poor and inequitable.
• Psychiatrist supply is steady, but practice styles vary significantly.
• Jurisdictional comparisons and qualitative insights into practice choices are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• Inform psychiatrist workforce planning to enhance psychiatric care access in Canada.
• Develop comparable indicators for psychiatric care supply across provinces.
• Analyze workforce characteristics, practice styles, and factors influencing psychiatrists' practice choices.

Main Methods:

• Cross-provincial mixed-methods study in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
• Analysis of linked health administrative data to characterize psychiatric services.
• Latent profile analysis and qualitative interviews with psychiatrists to explore practice preferences and choices.

Main Results:

• Comparable indicators of psychiatric care supply will be developed.
• Geographical distribution of psychiatrist practices will be mapped against need.
• Factors influencing psychiatrists' practice choices and intentions will be explored.

Conclusions:

• Study findings will support evidence-based human resource policies.
• Improved understanding of workforce dynamics is expected to enhance psychiatric care access.
• This research aims to optimize the distribution and practice of psychiatrists to meet population needs.