Lessons on the COVID-19 pandemic, for and by primary care professionals worldwide

Rawaf, Salman; Allen, Luke; Stigler, Florian L; Kringos, Dionne; Yamamoto, Harumi; Weel, Chris van

doi:10.1080/13814788.2020.1820479

Cited by 236 publications

(297 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…The need to strengthen health systems, particularly PC, and the importance of PC in supporting each nation’s pandemic response has been exemplified as the world grapples with COVID-19 ( 51 , 52 ). Reports of the burden on PCPs ( 53 ), reinforce the fact that strong PC underpins any effective health system response. Despite lessons learnt from previous epidemics, COVID-19 has exposed the same health system weaknesses in relation to disease detection and surveillance ( 49 ), prompting a call to consider centralized coordination of surveillance and infectious disease response ( 54 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This review suggests that the PC role could be clarified and strengthened by each nation, recognising and supporting PCPs’ dual roles in providing clinical care and supporting PH control measures. A synthesis of PCPs’ experiences in 68 countries reported that PCPs in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea were well-prepared as a result of lessons learnt from SARS and MERS epidemics; however, PCPs in all other countries reviewed were ill-prepared and felt ill-informed of how to fulfil their roles ( 53 ). Despite this, PCPs demonstrated agility, resilience and creativity in their responses through segregating care pathways ( 53 , 57 ), optimizing digital access to care ( 53 ) and sharing workforces ( 57 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lessons for the global primary care response to COVID-19: a rapid review of evidence from past epidemics

et al. 2021

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Background COVID-19 is the fifth and most significant infectious disease epidemic this century. Primary health care providers, which include those working in primary care and public health roles, have critical responsibilities in the management of health emergencies. Objective To synthesize accounts of primary care lessons learnt from past epidemics and their relevance to COVID-19. Methods We conducted a review of lessons learnt from previous infectious disease epidemics for primary care, and their relevance to COVID-19. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, PROQUEST and Google Scholar, hand-searched reference lists of included studies, and included research identified through professional contacts. Results Of 173 publications identified, 31 publications describing experiences of four epidemics in 11 countries were included. Synthesis of findings identified six key lessons: (i) improve collaboration, communication and integration between public health and primary care; (ii) strengthen the primary health care system; (iii) provide consistent, coordinated and reliable information emanating from a trusted source; (iv) define the role of primary care during pandemics; (v) protect the primary care workforce and the community and (vi) evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Conclusions Evidence highlights distinct challenges to integrating and supporting primary care in response to infectious disease epidemics that have persisted over time, emerging again during COVID-19. These insights provide an opportunity for strengthening, and improved preparedness, that cannot be ignored in a world where the frequency, virility and global reach of infectious disease outbreaks are increasing. It is not too soon to plan for the next pandemic, which may already be on the horizon.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons for the global primary care response to COVID-19: a rapid review of evidence from past epidemics

et al. 2021

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“…1 , 12 Editorials in the academic literature early in the pandemic flagged the crisis in hopeful terms as an opportunity to achieve overdue modernisation of services and efficiency improvements. 13 – 17 Empirical evaluations of new telehealth services were quickly produced, and largely emphasised the benefits of such services. 18 – 21 Review articles and commentaries depicted such services as part of a wider digital response to the pandemic, which also included new and repurposed technologies for population surveillance, case identification, contact tracing, point-of-care diagnosis, and disease monitoring.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing media depictions of remote consulting in COVID-19: analysis of UK newspapers

et al. 2020

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Background: Remote consulting was introduced quickly into UK general practice in March 2020 as an emergency response to Covid-19. In July 2020, ‘remote-first’ became long-term government policy. Aim: To explore how this change was portrayed in national newspapers and how depictions changed over time. Design and setting: We undertook a thematic analysis of newspaper articles referring to remote GP consultations from two time periods: March-May 2020 and July-August 2020. Method: Articles were identified through, and extracted from, LexisNexis® Academic UK. A coding system of themes and narrative devices was developed and applied to the data. The analysis was developed iteratively, amending the coding structure as new data were added. Results: Remote consulting was widely covered in newspapers. Articles in period 1 depicted it positively, equating digital change with progress and linking novel technological solutions with improved efficiency and safety (e.g. infection control) in a service that was overdue for modernisation. Articles in period 2 questioned the persistence of a remote-first service now that the pandemic was waning, emphasising (for example) missed diagnoses, challenges to the therapeutic relationship, and digital inequalities. Conclusion: As the first wave of the pandemic came and went, media depictions of remote consulting evolved from an ‘efficiency and safety’ narrative to a ‘risks, inequalities and lack of choice’ narrative. To restore public trust in general practice, public communication should emphasise the wide menu of consulting options now available to patients and measures being taken to assure safety and avoid inequity.

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“…In order to cope with all the changes this pandemic has brought, a complete reorganization of the healthcare system took place, and shifted its focus to management and triage of COVID-19 patients [ 9 , 10 ]. Specialized COVID-19 centers rapidly emerged throughout the country, and one of the main carriers of the logistical and adaptive burden that emerged were family physicians (FPs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specialized COVID-19 centers rapidly emerged throughout the country, and one of the main carriers of the logistical and adaptive burden that emerged were family physicians (FPs). On the frontline of the pandemic, and point of first contact with the healthcare system, FPs represent a crucial factor in providing a common link between all other healthcare services [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. However, at the same time, they are also managing most of the COVID-19 patients, all of which is causing profound changes in primary care functioning [ 10 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

Vilovic

Božić

Vilović

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

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Lessons on the COVID-19 pandemic, for and by primary care professionals worldwide

Cited by 236 publications

References 3 publications

Lessons for the global primary care response to COVID-19: a rapid review of evidence from past epidemics

Lessons for the global primary care response to COVID-19: a rapid review of evidence from past epidemics

Changing media depictions of remote consulting in COVID-19: analysis of UK newspapers

Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

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