Physician assistants working in primary care in Canada: Findings from a national survey.

Abstract

Physician Assistants (PAs) are increasingly recognized as part of the solution to addressing Canada's primary care shortage. This study reports findings from a national survey of 386 Canadian PAs with primary care experience. Respondents described delivering a broad scope of care, including direct patient management, teaching, mentorship, and quality improvement across settings such as elderly care, mental health, Indigenous health, refugee health, and rural communities. Most PAs reported high confidence in core competencies and effective integration into interprofessional teams. Despite this, systemic barriers persist including inadequate funding, role ambiguity, and resistance from other providers. Many PAs (71%) expressed job satisfaction, and 75% would recommend primary care practice. The study highlights opportunities to improve PA utilization and access to care through policy reform, better funding models, and expanded educational supports. These insights are valuable for policy-makers, administrators, and educators aiming to strengthen primary care delivery and PA role optimization.