The results are in: learn what we heard from CPSA’s “Your Voice Matters” regulated member survey

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Plus: express your interest to participate in our upcoming regulated member focus groups

In February and March of this year, we ran a survey to hear from you, CPSA-regulated members, on your perceptions of CPSA, experiences interacting with CPSA, the impact of regulatory processes on professional practice and opportunities to strengthen physician engagement.

A collaboration between CPSA’s Communications and Analytics, Innovation & Research (AIR) departments, the survey is the first part of a mixed-method research approach to better understand how regulated members experience engagement with CPSA. The second part of this research will be focus group sessions with regulated members.

In total, we had 957 respondents share helpful insights through survey questions and open-ended comments, which have been tabulated and put into a report intended to help guide CPSA in further engagement efforts with regulated members. We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the 957 regulated members who took the time to share their thoughts, experiences and perspectives with us!

Your voice matters—this is what we heard from you: 

Physicians recognize and support CPSA’s regulatory mandate

Survey findings demonstrate broad recognition of CPSA’s responsibility to protect the public, maintain professional standards and regulate the medical profession. Many physicians described CPSA using functional terms such as “regulator,” “licensing,” “oversight” and “standards,” reflecting widespread acceptance of CPSA’s role within Alberta’s healthcare system.

While perceptions varied, physicians generally distinguished between support for professional regulation and their experiences with how regulation is implemented.

Communication is effective for many physicians, but opportunities exist for greater engagement

Most physicians reported primarily engaging with CPSA through informational channels, such as emails, website resources and the CPSA Portal, while relatively few reported frequent direct contact with the organization.

Many respondents considered existing communication methods sufficient; however, others expressed interest in greater opportunities for dialogue through educational events, town halls, webinars and direct conversations with CPSA team members.

Respondents consistently emphasized the importance of communication that is timely, practical, personalized and responsive to the realities of clinical practice in Alberta.

Experiences with CPSA are shaped by individual interactions

Physicians’ overall perceptions were strongly influenced by their interactions with different CPSA programs and team members. Positive experiences frequently highlighted knowledgeable staff, efficient registration processes and practical guidance.

Conversely, respondents described challenges obtaining individualized advice, navigating complex regulatory requirements and accessing timely responses. A smaller but important group of physicians reported that previous negative experiences or concerns about psychological safety discouraged them from engaging proactively with CPSA.

Complaints processes are a source of concern

Although respondents generally acknowledged complaints as an essential component of professional self-regulation, many described complaints processes as emotionally challenging.

Physicians identified opportunities to improve timeliness, communication, procedural fairness and transparency throughout investigations. Comments consistently suggested that improvements to physicians’ experiences could be achieved without compromising CPSA’s responsibility to protect the public.

Administrative burden influences physicians’ perceptions of CPSA

Administrative requirements emerged as one of the most consistent concerns throughout the survey. Respondents emphasized the cumulative workload associated with regulatory activities, including documentation, reporting requirements and quality improvement initiatives.

Importantly, physicians generally did not question the value of professional accountability—rather, they advocated for regulatory processes that are streamlined, proportionate, clearly communicated and better integrated with existing professional responsibilities.

Physicians identified clear opportunities to strengthen engagement

Respondents consistently described a preferred relationship with CPSA characterized by practical support, meaningful physician involvement, transparent communication, mutual respect and greater understanding of frontline clinical practice.

Many encouraged CPSA to expand opportunities for dialogue, increase visibility within clinical settings, strengthen transparency regarding decision-making and provide individualized guidance that directly supports patient care. These recommendations reflected a desire for a collaborative physician-regulator relationship that balances accountability with support.

Conclusions from the survey

The findings suggest that physicians recognize and support CPSA’s public protection mandate while identifying meaningful opportunities to strengthen engagement and trust. Experiences with communication, accessibility, complaints processes and administrative requirements substantially influenced physicians’ overall perceptions of the organization.

Across themes, respondents consistently distinguished between the importance of professional regulation and the way regulatory activities are experienced in practice. Collectively, the findings suggest that strengthening communication, improving transparency, enhancing physician support, and reducing unnecessary administrative burden may further strengthen physician engagement while continuing to advance CPSA’s mandate to protect the public and promote high-quality medical care.

Together, these findings provide CPSA with an evidence-informed foundation to strengthen engagement with regulated members while continuing to fulfill its public protection mandate.

Want to share your perspective? Express your interest in participating in a regulated member focus group this fall!

Our engagement research will continue this fall with focus group sessions. If you’re a CPSA-regulated member who’d like to express interest in participating, please complete this form. Expressions of interest will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Focus group participants will be compensated for their time.

Findings from this survey and the focus groups will help inform our work and decision-making moving forward, as well as help shape future engagement efforts with regulated members.

This research study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Alberta’s Research Ethics Board (Pro00153292).