[Comparing the perspectives of primary care doctors in the Canary Islands and Alberta (Canada)].

OBJECTIVE

To examine the advantages and disadvantages of two different Health Care Systems from the perspective of Primary Care (PC) physicians.

DESIGN

Qualitative research based on the analysis of documents written as diaries for the study.

SETTING

Primary Care in the Canary Islands (Spain) and Alberta (Canada) CONTEXT AND PARTICIPANTS: Intentional sample to identify different profiles of physicians.

METHOD

Participants were asked to write a document describing their work activities, including the impact of the organisational system and on their personal life. Two representatives of the health care system were asked to write a detailed description about how PC is organised in their country. Nine diaries were collected (5 from the Canary Islands and 4 from Alberta). Ritchie & Spencer framework was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

In Alberta, physicians have access to more complementary tests; they can offer hospital care; they have to sort out administrative work; they can choose were to work; and can specialise in different types of health care services. In the Canary Islands physicians can have paid holidays and the administrative issues do not depend on them, patients have a physician assigned and seem to have more institutional support.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study allow us to constructively analyse the role of PC physicians, assess the advantages and re-think the disadvantages related to how we work in order to learn from other health care systems.