For several years, the Quebec healthcare system has faced persistent challenges related to access to and continuity of primary care. In this context, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) is considering reforms aimed at optimizing access and relational continuity, while ensuring improved quality of care. However, implementing these reforms requires a thorough understanding of how family physicians allocate their working time.

Based on a secondary analysis of survey data collected from family physicians practicing in Quebec between 2023 and 2024, this report examines how time devoted to different practice-related tasks varies according to sociodemographic and organizational characteristics. The results show that two-thirds of the time reported as worked by family physicians is devoted to direct patient care. In addition, the equivalent of one full working day per week is dedicated to administrative tasks, a significant portion of which could be delegated to other professionals.
The analysis also reveals notable variations depending on practice settings, both in the number of weekly hours devoted to different tasks and in the number of patients seen per hour of direct care. This highlights several distinct practice profiles based on physicians’ activities and practice locations. By documenting the diversity of practices in family medicine, this study provides empirical support to better understand the organization of family physicians’ work in the context of ongoing reforms.