Commonwealth Fund survey, 2020

February 10, 2021 — The Commonwealth Fund’s International Health Policy surveys fill important information gaps by polling patients and providers in 11 developed countries. The 2020 edition focused on the views and experiences of the general population age 18 and older. For the first time, the survey included comparable information about behaviours affecting health (use of alcohol, tobacco, electronic vaping devices, cannabis and illicit drugs). Other topics covered include cost barriers to care, coordination of care and patient experience.

Learn more about Canadians’ experiences with their health care systems and examine how these experiences vary across Canada and relative to other developed countries, as well as how they are changing over time.

Key findings

• Vaping: 5% of Canadians reported having used electronic vaping devices (e-cigarettes). The rate was highest among 18- to 34-year-olds (11%) and lowest among those 35 and older (3%).
• Cannabis: More Canadians reported having used cannabis than their international peers (23% versus 9%). This is higher than the Commonwealth Fund average but similar to states in the United States where cannabis is legal for recreational use.
• Heavy drinking: 1 out of 4 Canadians reported heavy drinking at least once a month. Further, only 9% of respondents in Canada who reported heavy drinking said they’d had a discussion with their health care provider about alcohol use.
• Mental health: Fewer than half of Canadians who wanted help for mental health concerns received services. Canadians with mental health conditions reported higher cost barriers to care and financial distress compared with those without mental health conditions.
• Access to virtual and in-person care: Access continued to be challenging in Canada, with patients reporting difficulties with timely access to in-person care. Improvements have been made in access to virtual care, but there is still a gap between services physicians report having available and services patients report using.