National findings offer important context for Alberta’s physicians
Physician health and well-being remains under significant strain across Canada, according to the 2025 National Physician Health Survey (NPHS). This is the third iteration of the survey, which was first conducted in 2017 and again in 2021. It captures the sentiments of physicians who are facing a rapidly changing health care system and accompanying workforce challenges, safety concerns and emerging technologies.
The pan-Canadian survey examined physician well-being, workload and professional culture and provides important insights into national trends. Here are some of the findings.
Burnout and distress remain widespread
Across Canada, physicians report persistently high levels of stress, emotional exhaustion and burnout compared with earlier survey cycles. These findings suggest that physician well-being challenges remain entrenched rather than temporary. The continued presence of burnout signals ongoing risk to physician retention, professional satisfaction and system sustainability, particularly in jurisdictions already experiencing access and workforce pressures. The ongoing crisis in Alberta’s acute care system makes these findings particularly relevant.
Workload and system capacity pressures increased
Physicians nationally report increasing patient complexity, growing administrative burden and difficulty navigating health system capacity constraints. These challenges affect physicians’ ability to deliver timely, high quality care and contribute to cumulative stress. These national trends align closely with well-documented pressures within Alberta’s health system, including capacity limitations and access challenges.
Moral distress and professional culture are widespread
The survey also highlights widespread moral distress among physicians. Many report frustration and ethical strain when system constraints prevent them from providing the level of care they believe patients need. This form of distress is reported nationally and includes Alberta respondents. While the survey does not provide provincial breakdowns, Alberta’s physicians have been outspoken about what is happening in EDs across the province and the suffering they witness while trying to provide care in a strained system.
Impacts of health misinformation
Health misinformation continues to impact physicians, with 77 per cent of respondents indicating that their work is negatively impacted, either to a great extent (27%) or somewhat (50%). Health misinformation has been a particular concern in Alberta in recent years. Many experts attribute Alberta’s low vaccine uptake, including for vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, flu and COVID-19, to health misinformation and disinformation.
Learn more
The survey findings reflect the current realities facing physicians, reinforcing the importance of physician retention, workload management, administrative simplification and addressing misinformation. The full report is available on the CMA website. The AMA will be looking closely at these results to determine how the organization can better support Alberta’s physicians and advance strategies that address several of the priority issues that emerged from the survey. | 