Consultations with doctors and nurses.

Most have family doctor or GP In 2003, an estimated 86% of Canadians aged 12 and older—about 23 million people—reported that they had a “regular” medical doctor. Even if they did not, just over threequarters of people these ages (77%) said they had consulted a family physician or a general practitioner (GP) at least once in the past year. As well, 11% reported having consulted a nurse. Predictably, older Canadians were more likely than younger people to have seen or talked to a family physician or GP. By contrast, having had at least one consultation with a nurse was more likely in early adulthood. At nearly all ages, the proportion of females who consulted family physicians/GPs or nurses at least once was greater than that for males. Nurse visits among seniors were the exception. While women aged 65 or older CONSULTATIONS WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES by Gisèle Carrière