Short Abstract

This session explores how the Canadian Medical Association has used eight years of longitudinal physician wellness data to inform two recent national health policies. The authors will highlight the importance of data-driven decision making and collaborative policy development.

Description

Background and approach:

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is a key player in the Canadian healthcare space, working to solve big problems and catalyze change across multiple policy areas. Part of this work involves policy advocacy at provincial, territorial, and federal levels.

One cornerstone of this effort is the National Physician Health Survey (NPHS) that is distributed by the CMA every four years to allow for tracking outcomes over time (2017, 2021, 2025). The NPHS evaluates physician wellness and contributing factors in Canada (e.g., burnout, work hours, bullying, collegiality, etc.), which is used to identify areas deserving of policy attention. The most recent iteration of the NPHS, which received ethical approval through the University of Ottawa, was distributed to Canadian physicians, residents and medical students in March and April of 2025 (N = 3,554).

The presentation will demonstrate how this national dataset was used to influence the development of two Canadian health policies, including the Integrated Health Human Resource Policy (IHHR) released in October 2025, and the Physician Health and Safety Policy (currently in development). For example, the 2021 iteration of the survey flagged that retention among physicians was an issue that could lead to increased health workforce shortages. This information informed the retention and wellness components of the IHHR policy. With respect to the forthcoming Physician Health and Safety Policy, 2025 NPHS data identified physicians who are at an increased risk of unsafe working environments (e.g., women, Indigenous physicians, physicians living with disabilities). Interviews were conducted with these equity-relevant groups to inform policy writing, and their feedback was requested on the draft policy through a consultation survey.

Key messages/lessons:

• Longitudinal data can reveal persistent and emerging challenges that highlight areas deserving policy attention.

• It is important to involve your target audience in the development of national policy.

• Policies that are rooted in data and evaluation often resonate with decision makers.

Relevance to conference theme:

This session demonstrates how evaluation can move beyond measurement to drive meaningful change. It illustrates the pathway from data to direction, showing how data can shape policy priorities.