title: Perceived barriers to primary care among western Canadians with chronic conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This analysis explores barriers to the receipt of health care from a primary care physician for management of chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based survey was administered to adults in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia who had hypertension, diabetes, heart disease or stroke (n=1,849). Associations between socio-demographic factors and barriers to receipt of primary care were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents with chronic conditions required care from a primary care physician in the past year and had no difficulty receiving it; about 10% reported a barrier. Barriers were most commonly reported by respondents with diabetes (16%) and were related to initiation of care or waiting too long to get care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A small percentage of adults with chronic conditions report barriers to receiving care from a primary care physician.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ronksley
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanmartin
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: David J T
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: G Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McBrien
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonelli
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Braden J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Brenda R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hemmelgarn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D001955:British Columbia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012525:Saskatchewan; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Health services accessibility; health services needs and demand