Prescriptive authority for psychologists and scope of practice: A national survey of Canadian psychologists and psychology students

Over 4 decades, prescriptive authority for psychologists (RxP) has made gradual and substantive progress in the United States, while in Canada, advocacy started within the last decade. Previous studies have indicated increasing degrees of support for RxP over the years. With the latest Canadian survey on this topic being conducted 20 years ago, the present study aimed to provide an updated report of the interests, beliefs, and attitudes of Canadian psychologists and psychology students on the topic of RxP. A total of 370 survey responses were collected from a sample of Canadian psychologists and psychology students. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were calculated. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to organize patterns of response to survey items based on underlying constructs. Results were indicative of generally positive attitudes towards RxP. The greatest agreement rates were specific to how RxP could benefit the public and improve accessibility and quality of care. Comparisons based on demographic characteristics indicated that younger participants would be more likely to enroll in RxP training if psychologists in Canada obtained RxP. There was a preference for RxP training to begin at the predoctoral level, followed by the postdoctoral level. There is a strong perception that RxP has the potential to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, improve the range of treatment options available to underserved populations, and reduce cost to patients. A majority of respondents indicated they would enroll in RxP training were it available in Canada. These findings inform recommendations for policy, practice, and future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)