Rural physician–community engagement: Building, supporting and maintaining resilient health care strategies in three rural Canadian communities

Abstract

Objective

To explore rural physician–community engagement through three case studies in order to understand the role that these relationships can play in increasing community-level resilience to climate change and ecosystem disruption.

Design

Qualitative secondary case study analysis.

Setting

Three Canadian rural communities (BC n = 2, Ontario n = 1).

Participants

Rural family physicians and community members.

Methods

Twenty-eight semi-structured virtual interviews, conducted between November 2021 and February 2022, were included. Communities were selected from the larger data set based on data availability, level of physician engagement and demographic factors. Thematic analysis was completed in NVivo using deductive coding.

Main Findings

The presented qualitative case studies shed light on the strategies employed by physicians to establish and foster relationships within rural communities during challenging circumstances. In Community A, the implementation of a Primary Care Society (PCS) not only addressed physician shortages but also facilitated the development of strong continuity of care through proactive recruitment efforts. Community B showcased the adoption of an ‘intentional physician community’ model, emphasising collaboration and community consultation, resulting in effective communication of public health directives and innovative interdisciplinary action during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Community C, engaged physicians and community advocates are aligned to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the rural community, particularly in the context of food security and climate change vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the significance of trust building, transparent communication and collaboration in addressing health care challenges in rural areas and emphasise the need to recognise and support physicians as agents of change.