Survey results for the period 1998-2007 depict shifting views and expectations on questions of personal values and experience in health care.
From 1998 to 2003, and again in 2007, respondent groups were questioned on the most important health care issue facing Canada. Up to 2003, concerns related to "Government Cutbacks" and "Lack of Funding" were indicated most often or second most often by all groups. In 2007, however, "Wait Times" was the issue mentioned most often by the groups surveyed. View the full data table. View graphs.
Between 1999 and 2004, all groups surveyed were asked about their confidence in the health system. The public were also consulted on this issue in 1998 and 2005. The number from all groups saying their confidence was "rising" remained below 10% until 2003, hitting its lowest numbers in 2002 for all groups except doctors. Interestingly, for all groups, except the public, the number saying their confidence was "rising" at least doubled between 2002 and 2003. That number further increased for pharmacists and managers in 2004, but subsided slightly for the other groups. View the full data table. View graphs.
When asked whether Canadians are receiving quality health care, the percentage of the Canadian public and health care providers saying "yes" varied over the years 1998 to 2007. The public and nurses consistently had the lowest percentages each year, while other respondent groups were more positive. View the full data table. View graphs.
Each year, the public were asked what kind of change was needed in Canada's health system. Health care providers were also asked in 2000-2003, 2006, and 2007. With the exception of 2002, the public was the group most likely to say the system needed "a complete rebuilding." On the other hand, with the exception of the pharmacists group in 2003, the percentage of health providers saying the system needed "major repairs" was consistently higher than that of the public group. When these two categories are combined, pharmacists had the lowest numbers of any group overall each year, except in 2001. View the full data table. View graphs.