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Tu K, Lapadula MC, Apajee J, Bonilla AO, Baste V, Cuba-Fuentes MS, de Lusignan S, Flottorp S, Gaona G, Goh LH, Hallinan CM, Kristiansson RS, Laughlin A, Li Z, Ling ZJ, Manski-Nankervis JA, Ng APP, Scattini LF, Silva-Valencia J, Pace WD, Wensaas KA, Wong WCW, Zingoni PL, Westfall JM. Changes in reasons for visits to primary care after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: An international comparative study by the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID). PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0003406. [PMID: 39173045 PMCID: PMC11341054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped healthcare delivery worldwide. OBJECTIVE To explore potential changes in the reasons for visits and modality of care in primary care settings through the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID). METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study from 2018-2021. We examined visit volume, modality, and reasons for visits to primary care in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Peru, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA. The analysis involved a comparison between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. RESULTS There were more than 215 million visits from over 38 million patients during the study period in INTRePID primary care settings. Most INTRePID countries experienced a decline in monthly visit rates during the first year of the pandemic, with rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging from RR:0.57 (95%CI:0.49-0.66) to RR:0.90 (95%CI:0.83-0.98), except for in Canada (RR:0.99, 95%CI:0.94-1.05) and Norway (RR:1.00, 95%CI:0.92-1.10), where rates remained stable and in Australia where rates increased (RR:1.19, 95%CI:1.11-1.28). Argentina, China, and Singapore had limited or no adoption of virtual care, whereas the remaining INTRePID countries varied in the extent of virtual care utilization. In Peru, virtual visits accounted for 7.34% (95%CI:7.33%-7.35%) of all interactions in the initial year of the pandemic, dipping to 5.22% (95%CI:5.21%-5.23%) in the subsequent year. However, in Canada 75.30% (95%CI:75.20%-75.40%) of the visits in the first year were virtual, decreasing to 62.77% (95%CI:62.66%-62.88%) in the second year. Diabetes, hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia and general health exams were in the top 10 reasons for visits in 2019 for all countries. Anxiety, depression and/or other mental health related reasons were among the top 10 reasons for virtual visits in all countries that had virtual care. CONCLUSIONS The pandemic resulted in changes in reasons for visits to primary care, with virtual care mitigating visit volume disruptions in many countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- North York General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Toronto Western Hospital, Family Health Team, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - María C. Lapadula
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jemisha Apajee
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Valborg Baste
- National Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - María S. Cuba-Fuentes
- Center for Research in Primary Health Care (CINAPS), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gabriela Gaona
- DARTNet Institute, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Lay Hoon Goh
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christine M. Hallinan
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Adrian Laughlin
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhuo Li
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zheng J. Ling
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Primary Care and Family Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amy P. P. Ng
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Luciano F. Scattini
- Ministry of Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Wilson D. Pace
- DARTNet Institute, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Knut-Arne Wensaas
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - William C. W. Wong
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paula L. Zingoni
- Ministry of Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Morgan ZJ, Bazemore AW, Peterson LE, Phillips RL, Dai M. The Disproportionate Impact of Primary Care Disruption and Telehealth Utilization During COVID-19. Ann Fam Med 2024; 22:294-300. [PMID: 39038984 PMCID: PMC11268690 DOI: 10.1370/afm.3134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic not only exacerbated existing disparities in health care in general but likely worsened disparities in access to primary care. Our objective was to quantify the nationwide decrease in primary care visits and increase in telehealth utilization during the pandemic and explore whether certain groups of patients were disproportionately affected. METHODS We used a geographically diverse primary care electronic health record data set to examine the following 3 outcomes: (1) change in total visit volume, (2) change in in-person visit volume, and (3) the telehealth conversion ratio defined as the number of pandemic telehealth visits divided by the total number of prepandemic visits. We assessed whether these outcomes were associated with patient characteristics including age, gender, race, ethnicity, comorbidities, rurality, and area-level social deprivation. RESULTS Our primary sample included 1,652,871 patients from 408 practices. During the pandemic we observed decreases of 7% and 17% in total and in-person visit volume and a 10% telehealth conversion ratio. The greatest decreases in visit volume were observed among pediatric patients (-24%), Asian patients (-11%), and those with more comorbidities (-9%). Telehealth usage was greatest among Hispanic or Latino patients (17%) and those living in urban areas (12%). CONCLUSIONS Decreases in primary care visit volume were partially offset by increasing telehealth use for all patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the magnitude of these changes varied significantly across all patient characteristics. These variations have implications not only for the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also for planners seeking to ready the primary care delivery system for any future systematic disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew W Bazemore
- American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- The Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care, Washington, DC
| | - Lars E Peterson
- American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Robert L Phillips
- American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- The Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care, Washington, DC
| | - Mingliang Dai
- American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
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Homburg M, Berger M, Berends M, Meijer E, Kupers T, Ramerman L, Rijpkema C, de Schepper E, Olde Hartman T, Muris J, Verheij R, Peters L. Dutch GP healthcare consumption in COVID-19 heterogeneous regions: an interregional time-series approach in 2020-2021. BJGP Open 2024; 8:BJGPO.2023.0121. [PMID: 38128964 PMCID: PMC11300972 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2023.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many countries observed a sharp decline in the use of general practice services after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research has not yet considered how changes in healthcare consumption varied among regions with the same restrictive measures but different COVID-19 prevalence. AIM To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare consumption in Dutch general practice during 2020 and 2021, among regions with known heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence, from a pre-pandemic baseline in 2019. DESIGN & SETTING Population-based cohort study using electronic health records. The study was undertaken in Dutch general practices involved in regional research networks. METHOD An interrupted time-series analysis of changes in healthcare consumption from before to during the pandemic was performed. Descriptive statistics were used on the number of potential COVID-19-related contacts, reason for contact, and type of contact. RESULTS The study covered 3 595 802 contacts (425 639 patients), 3 506 637 contacts (433 340 patients), and 4 105 413 contacts (434 872 patients) in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Time-series analysis revealed a significant decrease in healthcare consumption after the outbreak of the pandemic. Despite interregional heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence, healthcare consumption decreased comparably over time in the three regions, before rebounding to a level significantly higher than baseline in 2021. Physical consultations transitioned to phone or digital over time. CONCLUSION Healthcare consumption decreased irrespective of the regional prevalence of COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic, with the Delta variant triggering a further decrease. Overall, changes in care consumption appeared to reflect contextual factors and societal restrictions rather than infection rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Homburg
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Berger
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Berends
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Certe Medical Diagnostics and Advice Foundation, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eline Meijer
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Data Science Center in Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Thijmen Kupers
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Data Science Center in Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Ramerman
- Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Corinne Rijpkema
- Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Evelien de Schepper
- Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tim Olde Hartman
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jean Muris
- Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Verheij
- Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Tranzo, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Lilian Peters
- Department of Primary and Long-term Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Wensaas KA, Simonsen KA, Welle-Nilsen LK, Litleskare S. Extended access to general practice services during weekends in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scand J Public Health 2024; 52:247-252. [PMID: 38073156 DOI: 10.1177/14034948231213466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The incidence, symptoms, and trajectories of COVID-19 in the community were unknown in the early phase of the pandemic. Consequently, organizing a primary health care response was challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate whether reorganizing general practice services with extended weekend access for patients was feasible, and to assess the extent to which patients used this service. DESIGN Observational study with registration after a simple intervention. SETTING General practice services in the second half of March 2020 when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. SUBJECTS All general practices in Bergen were asked to be available during weekends for their patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs), by telephone, video-, or e-consultation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Number of practices participating, patients connected to these practices, and consultations for RTIs and suspected COVID-19. RESULTS During the first weekend, 33 of 71 practices (45%) covering 51% of the population participated. The following weekend this increased to 39 practices (53%) covering 64% of the population. The first weekend 25 practices reported a total of 336 consultations for RTIs, eight of which were for confirmed and 113 were for suspected COVID-19. The corresponding numbers reported from 23 practices the second weekend were 158 RTI consultations, four for confirmed and 41 for suspected COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS On short notice about half the practices in Bergen were made accessible during weekends for their patients with RTIs. The number of consultations per practice was small, but combined this amounted to a substantial improvement in the emergency services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut-Arne Wensaas
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
| | | | | | - Sverre Litleskare
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
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Ibsen TL, Strand BH, Bergh S, Livingston G, Lurås H, Mamelund SE, Voshaar RO, Rokstad AMM, Thingstad P, Gerritsen D, Selbæk G. A longitudinal cohort study on the use of health and care services by older adults living at home with/without dementia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:485. [PMID: 38641570 PMCID: PMC11027287 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10846-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults and people with dementia were anticipated to be particularly unable to use health and care services during the lockdown period following the COVID-19 pandemic. To better prepare for future pandemics, we aimed to investigate whether the use of health and care services changed during the pandemic and whether those at older ages and/or dementia experienced a higher degree of change than that observed by their counterparts. METHODS Data from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70 + , 2017-2019) were linked to two national health registries that have individual-level data on the use of primary and specialist health and care services. A multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model was used to calculate changes in the use of services from 18 months before the lockdown, (12 March 2020) to 18 months after the lockdown. RESULTS The study sample included 10,607 participants, 54% were women and 11% had dementia. The mean age was 76 years (SD: 5.7, range: 68-102 years). A decrease in primary health and care service use, except for contact with general practitioners (GPs), was observed during the lockdown period for people with dementia (p < 0.001) and those aged ≥ 80 years without dementia (p = 0.006), compared to the 6-month period before the lockdown. The use of specialist health services decreased during the lockdown period for all groups (p ≤ 0.011), except for those aged < 80 years with dementia. Service use reached levels comparable to pre-pandemic data within one year after the lockdown. CONCLUSION Older adults experienced an immediate reduction in the use of health and care services, other than GP contacts, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within primary care services, people with dementia demonstrated a more pronounced reduction than that observed in people without dementia; otherwise, the variations related to age and dementia status were small. Both groups returned to services levels similar to those during the pre-pandemic period within one year after the lockdown. The increase in GP contacts may indicate a need to reallocate resources to primary health services during future pandemics. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, with the identification number NCT04792086.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Louise Ibsen
- The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
| | - Bjørn Heine Strand
- The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sverre Bergh
- The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Research Centre for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease (AFS), Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Hilde Lurås
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Svenn-Erik Mamelund
- Centre for Research On Pandemics & Society (PANSOC), at Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Richard Oude Voshaar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anne Marie Mork Rokstad
- The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway
| | - Pernille Thingstad
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Health and Social Services, Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Debby Gerritsen
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geir Selbæk
- The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Ślusarska B, Nowicki GJ, Chrzan-Rodak A, Marcinowicz L. Understanding the experiences of PHC nurses in caring for older patients in the post-fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory qualitative study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1340418. [PMID: 38699421 PMCID: PMC11063337 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1340418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To ensure the best possible care, the perspective of PHC nurse work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered when developing nursing care protocols for older patients who receive PHC services. Method This exploratory qualitative study was conducted with 18 nurses working continuously in PHC between the first and fifth waves of the pandemic. Semi-structured thematic interviews were undertaken. Qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted to identify and group the themes that emerged from the discourse. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The first topic describes the nurses' experiences of physical and mental suffering in caring for older patients in response to the pandemic. The second topic covers the experience of reorganizing PHC work. The third topic focuses on the difficulties of caring for older patients. The final topic includes issues of support needs for nurses in PHC work. Conclusion The experience and understanding of PHC nurses in caring for older people during the COVID pandemic should lead to significant changes in the system of nursing care for geriatric patients and in the cooperative role within geriatric care specialist teams. Drawing on the experience of COVID-19, it is necessary to work on the weak points of PHC exposed by the pandemic in order to improve the quality of care and life for geriatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ślusarska
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Józef Nowicki
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Chrzan-Rodak
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Ludmiła Marcinowicz
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Maternity Care, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
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Mathews M, Hedden L, Lukewich J, Marshall EG, Meredith L, Moritz L, Ryan D, Spencer S, Brown JB, Gill PS, Wong EKW. Adapting care provision in family practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study exploring the impact of primary care reforms in four Canadian regions. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2024; 25:109. [PMID: 38582824 PMCID: PMC10998349 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past two decades, Canadian provinces and territories have introduced a series of primary care reforms in an attempt to improve access to and quality of primary care services, resulting in diverse organizational structures and practice models. We examine the impact of these reforms on family physicians' (FPs) ability to adapt their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of routine primary care. METHODS As part of a larger case study, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with FPs in four Canadian regions: British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. During the interviews, participants were asked about their personal and practice characteristics, the pandemic-related roles they performed over different stages of the pandemic, the facilitators and barriers they experienced in performing these roles, and potential roles FPs could have filled. Interviews were transcribed and a thematic analysis approach was applied to identify recurring themes in the data. RESULTS Sixty-eight FPs completed an interview across the four regions. Participants described five areas of primary care reform that impacted their ability to operate and provide care during the pandemic: funding models, electronic medical records (EMRs), integration with regional entities, interdisciplinary teams, and practice size. FPs in alternate funding models experienced fewer financial constraints than those in fee-for-service practices. EMR access enhanced FPs' ability to deliver virtual care, integration with regional entities improved access to personal protective equipment and technological support, and team-based models facilitated the implementation of infection prevention and control protocols. Lastly, larger group practices had capacity to ensure adequate staffing and cover additional costs, allowing FPs more time to devote to patient care. CONCLUSIONS Recent primary care system reforms implemented in Canada enhanced FPs' ability to adapt to the uncertain and evolving environment of providing primary care during the pandemic. Our study highlights the importance of ongoing primary care reforms to enhance pandemic preparedness and advocates for further expansion of these reforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mathews
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | - Lindsay Hedden
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Julia Lukewich
- Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Emily Gard Marshall
- Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Research Unit, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Suite 402, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Leslie Meredith
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Lauren Moritz
- Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Research Unit, Dalhousie University, 1465 Brenton Street, Suite 402, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T4, Canada
| | - Dana Ryan
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Sarah Spencer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Judith B Brown
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Paul S Gill
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Eric K W Wong
- Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
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Silva-Valencia J, Lapadula C, Westfall JM, Gaona G, de Lusignan S, Kristiansson RS, Ling ZJ, Goh LH, Soto-Becerra P, Cuba-Fuentes MS, Wensaas KA, Flottorp S, Baste V, Chi-Wai Wong W, Pui Ng AP, Ortigoza A, Manski-Nankervis JA, Hallinan CM, Zingoni P, Scattini L, Heald A, Tu K. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health visits in primary care: an interrupted time series analysis from nine INTRePID countries. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 70:102533. [PMID: 38495523 PMCID: PMC10940140 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health disorders, affecting both individuals with pre-existing conditions and those with no prior history. However, there is limited evidence regarding the pandemic's impact on mental health visits to primary care physicians. The International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID) explored primary care visit trends related to mental health conditions in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA. Methods We conducted an interrupted time series analysis in nine countries to examine changes in rates of monthly mental health visits to primary care settings from January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2021. Sub-group analysis considered service type (in-person/virtual) and six categories of mental health conditions (anxiety/depression, bipolar/schizophrenia/other psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, dementia, ADHD/eating disorders, and substance use disorder). Findings Mental health visit rates increased after the onset of the pandemic in most countries. In Argentina, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, and Singapore, this increase was immediate ranged from an incidence rate ratio of 1·118 [95% CI 1.053-1.187] to 2.240 [95% CI 2.057-2.439] when comparing the first month of pandemic with the pre-pandemic trend. Increases in the following months varied across countries. Anxiety/depression was the leading reason for mental health visits in most countries. Virtual visits were reported in Australia, Canada, Norway, Peru, Sweden, and the USA, accounting for up to 40% of the total mental health visits. Interpretation Findings suggest an overall increase in mental health visits, driven largely by anxiety/depression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the studied countries adopted virtual care in particular for mental health visits. Primary care plays a crucial role in addressing mental ill-health in times of crisis. Funding Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant #173094 and the Rathlyn Foundation Primary Care EMR Research and Discovery Fund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Silva-Valencia
- Center for Research in Primary Health Care (CINAPS), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
| | - Carla Lapadula
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Zheng Jye Ling
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lay Hoon Goh
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Knut-Arne Wensaas
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Centre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Valborg Baste
- National Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - William Chi-Wai Wong
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Amy Pui Pui Ng
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Angela Ortigoza
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine Mary Hallinan
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paula Zingoni
- Ministry of Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciano Scattini
- Ministry of Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrian Heald
- School of Medical Sciences, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Research and Innovation and Family Medicine-North York General Hospital, Toronto Western Family Health Team-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Chukwusa E, Barclay S, Gulliford M, Harding R, Higginson I, Verne J. General practice service use at the end-of-life before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cohort study using primary care electronic health records. BJGP Open 2024; 8:BJGPO.2023.0108. [PMID: 37993135 PMCID: PMC11169988 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2023.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented strain in healthcare systems, but little is known about how it affected patients requiring palliative and end-of-life care from GPs. AIM To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on primary care service use in the last 3 months of life, including consultations and prescribing, and to identify associated factors. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective cohort study in UK, using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. METHOD The study cohort included those who died between 2019 and 2020. Poisson regression models using generalised estimation equations were used to examine the association between primary care use and patient characteristics. Adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated. RESULTS A total of 44 534 patients died during the study period. The pandemic period was associated with an 8.9% increase in the rate of consultations from 966.4 to 1052.9 per 1000 person-months, and 14.3% longer telephone consultation duration (from 10.1 to 11.5 minutes), with a switch from face-to-face to telephone or video consultations. The prescription of end-of-life care medications increased by 6.3%, from 1313.7 to 1396.3 per 1000 person-months. The adjusted rate ratios for consultations (aRR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.10, P<0.001) and prescriptions (aRR 1.05: 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.07, P<0.001) also increased during the pandemic. CONCLUSION The pandemic had a major impact on GP service use, leading to longer consultations, shifts from face-to-face to telephone or video consultations, and increased prescriptions. GP workload-related issues must be addressed urgently to ease the pressure on GPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeka Chukwusa
- King's College London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
| | - Stephen Barclay
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Gulliford
- Department of Population Health Sciences, King's College London, Faculty of Life Science & Medicine, London, UK
| | - Richard Harding
- King's College London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
| | - Irene Higginson
- King's College London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
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10
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Peng K, Tu K, Li Z, Hallinan CM, Laughlin A, Manski-Nankervis JA, Apajee J, Lapadula MC, Ortigoza A, Da Roza CC, Baste V, Flottorp S, Wensaas KA, Goh LH, Ling ZJ, Kristiansson R, Gaona G, Pace WD, Westfall JM, Ng APP, Wong WCW. Global impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health services: An international comparative study on primary care from the INTRePID Consortium. BJOG 2024; 131:508-517. [PMID: 37935645 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sexual and reproductive health (SRH) visits. DESIGN An ecological study comparing SRH services volume in different countries before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. SETTING Seven countries from the INTernational ConsoRtium of Primary Care BIg Data Researchers (INTRePID) across four continents. POPULATION Over 3.8 million SRH visits to primary care physicians in Australia, China, Canada, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and the USA. METHODS Difference in average SRH monthly visits before and during the pandemic, with negative binomial regression modelling to compare predicted and observed number of visits during the pandemic for SRH visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Monthly number of visits to primary care physicians from 2018 to 2021. RESULTS During the pandemic, the average volume of monthly SRH visits increased in Canada (15.6%, 99% CI 8.1-23.0%) where virtual care was pronounced. China, Singapore, Sweden and the USA experienced a decline (-56.5%, 99% CI -74.5 to -38.5%; -22.7%, 99% CI -38.8 to -6.5%; -19.4%, 99% CI -28.3 to -10.6%; and -22.7%, 99% CI -38.8 to -6.5%, respectively); while Australia and Norway showed insignificant changes (6.5%, 99% CI -0.7 to -13.8% and 1.7%, 99% CI -6.4 to -9.8%). The countries that maintained (Australia, Norway) or surpassed (Canada) pre-pandemic visit rates had the greatest use of virtual care. CONCLUSIONS In-person SRH visits to primary care decreased during the pandemic. Virtual care seemed to counterbalance that decline. Although cervical cancer screening appeared insensitive to virtual care, strategies such as incorporating self-collected samples for HPV testing may provide a solution in a future pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangning Peng
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Research and Innovation and Family Medicine-North York General Hospital, Toronto Western Family Health Team-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhuo Li
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Christine Mary Hallinan
- Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian Laughlin
- Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
- Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jemisha Apajee
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - María Carla Lapadula
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela Ortigoza
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cecilia Clara Da Roza
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Valborg Baste
- National Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut-Arne Wensaas
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lay Hoon Goh
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Zheng Jye Ling
- Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Robert Kristiansson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Health Services Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Amy Pui Pui Ng
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - William Chi-Wai Wong
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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11
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Hallinan CM, Ward R, Hart GK, Sullivan C, Pratt N, Ng AP, Capurro D, Van Der Vegt A, Liaw ST, Daly O, Luxan BG, Bunker D, Boyle D. Seamless EMR data access: Integrated governance, digital health and the OMOP-CDM. BMJ Health Care Inform 2024; 31:e100953. [PMID: 38387992 PMCID: PMC10882353 DOI: 10.1136/bmjhci-2023-100953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives In this overview, we describe theObservational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM), the established governance processes employed in EMR data repositories, and demonstrate how OMOP transformed data provides a lever for more efficient and secure access to electronic medical record (EMR) data by health service providers and researchers.Methods Through pseudonymisation and common data quality assessments, the OMOP-CDM provides a robust framework for converting complex EMR data into a standardised format. This allows for the creation of shared end-to-end analysis packages without the need for direct data exchange, thereby enhancing data security and privacy. By securely sharing de-identified and aggregated data and conducting analyses across multiple OMOP-converted databases, patient-level data is securely firewalled within its respective local site.Results By simplifying data management processes and governance, and through the promotion of interoperability, the OMOP-CDM supports a wide range of clinical, epidemiological, and translational research projects, as well as health service operational reporting.Discussion Adoption of the OMOP-CDM internationally and locally enables conversion of vast amounts of complex, and heterogeneous EMR data into a standardised structured data model, simplifies governance processes, and facilitates rapid repeatable cross-institution analysis through shared end-to-end analysis packages, without the sharing of data.Conclusion The adoption of the OMOP-CDM has the potential to transform health data analytics by providing a common platform for analysing EMR data across diverse healthcare settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Mary Hallinan
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Research Information Technology Unit (HaBIC R2), Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roger Ward
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Research Information Technology Unit (HaBIC R2), Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graeme K Hart
- School of Computing and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Clair Sullivan
- Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Pratt
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ashley P Ng
- Clinical Haematology Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel Capurro
- School of Computing and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of General Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anton Van Der Vegt
- Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Siaw-Teng Liaw
- School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Oliver Daly
- School of Computing and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Blanca Gallego Luxan
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH), UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Bunker
- Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Douglas Boyle
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Research Information Technology Unit (HaBIC R2), Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Manski-Nankervis JA, Canaway R, Chidgey C, Emery J, Sanci L, Hocking JS, Davidson S, Swan I, Boyle D. Data Resource Profile: Primary Care Audit, Teaching and Research Open Network (Patron). Int J Epidemiol 2024; 53:dyae002. [PMID: 38302745 PMCID: PMC10834357 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel Canaway
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine Chidgey
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jon Emery
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lena Sanci
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandra Davidson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Indi Swan
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dougie Boyle
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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13
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Lau BHP, Tang CSK, Holroyd E, Wong WCW. Challenges and Implications for Menopausal Health and Help-Seeking Behaviors in Midlife Women From the United States and China in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Web-Based Panel Surveys. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e46538. [PMID: 38277194 PMCID: PMC10858418 DOI: 10.2196/46538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global population of women of menopausal age is quickly increasing. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an accelerated increase in the use of telehealth services, especially technological solutions targeting women's health. Understanding the factors behind midlife women's help-seeking behaviors amidst the pandemic will assist in the development of person-centered holistic telehealth solutions targeting menopausal and postreproductive health. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the factors underlying help-seeking for menopausal distress among midlife women in the United States and China. METHODS We conducted 2 web-based panel surveys in the United States using Amazon Mechanical Turk and in China using Credamo between July and October 2022. A total of 1002 American and 860 Chinese women aged between 40 and 65 years took part in the survey. The survey was designed based on the Health Belief Model with questions related to their menopausal knowledge, perceived severity of menopausal symptoms, perceived susceptibility to menopausal distress, perceived benefits of help-seeking, perceived COVID-19- and non-COVID-19-related barriers against help-seeking, self-efficacy, and motivation to seek help. Structural equations models were fitted for the data using full information maximum likelihood to manage missing data. RESULTS Knowledge was not directly related to help-seeking motivation in both samples. Among the Chinese sample, knowledge was negatively related to perceived severity but positively related to COVID-19-related barriers; in turn, higher perceived severity, benefits, COVID-19-related barriers, and self-efficacy and lower non-COVID-19-related barriers were related to more motivation to seek help. In the US sample, knowledge was negatively related to perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, barriers (COVID-19- and non-COVID-19-related), and self-efficacy; in turn, higher self-efficacy, COVID-19-related barriers, and benefits were associated with more help-seeking motivation. The factors explained 53% and 45.3% of the variance of help-seeking motivation among the American and Chinese participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed disparate pathways between knowledge, health beliefs, and the motivation for help-seeking among American and Chinese midlife women with respect to menopausal distress. Our findings show that knowledge may not directly influence help-seeking motivation. Instead, perceived benefits and self-efficacy consistently predicted help-seeking motivation. Interestingly, concern over COVID-19 infection was related to higher help-seeking motivation in both samples. Hence, our findings recommend the further development of telehealth services to (1) develop content beyond health education and symptom management that serves to enhance the perceived benefits of addressing women's multidimensional menopausal health needs, (2) facilitate patient-care provider communication with a focus on self-efficacy and a propensity to engage in help-seeking behaviors, and (3) target women who have greater midlife health concerns in the postpandemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobo Hi Po Lau
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Mrs Dorothy Koo and Dr Ti Hua Koo Centre for Interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice and Research, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Catherine So Kum Tang
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Mrs Dorothy Koo and Dr Ti Hua Koo Centre for Interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice and Research, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Eleanor Holroyd
- Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, New Zealand
| | - William Chi Wai Wong
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
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14
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Britz JB, Huffstetler AN, Brooks EM, Richards A, Sabo RT, Webel BK, McCray N, Krist AH. Increased Organizational Stress in Primary Care: Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Medicaid Expansion, and Practice Ownership. J Am Board Fam Med 2024; 36:892-904. [PMID: 38092433 PMCID: PMC10860742 DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230145r2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary care is the foundation of health care, resulting in longer lives and improved equity. Primary care was the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic public response and essential for access to care. Yet primary care faces substantial structural and systemic challenges. As part of a longitudinal analysis to track the capacity and health of primary care, we surveyed every primary care practice in Virginia in 2018 and again in 2022. METHODS Surveys were emailed or mailed up to 6 times and nonresponders received a phone call. Questions assessed organizational characteristics, scope of care, capacity, and organizational stress in the prior year. From respondents, 39 clinicians, nurses, staff, administrators, and practice managers were interviewed. RESULTS 526 out of 2296 primary care practices (23% response rate) completed the survey, with broad representation across geography, ownership, and payer mix. Compared with 2018, in 2022 there were increases in practices owned by health systems (25% vs 43%, P < .0001) and average percent of patients with Medicaid per practice (12% vs 22%, P < .0001). The percent of practices reporting any major stressor increased from 34% to 53% (P < .0001). The main increased stress was losing a clinician, with 13% of practices in 2018 versus 42% in 2022 reporting losing a clinician (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Primary care practices are resilient and continue to serve their communities, including a broad scope of services and care for underserved people. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant stress. With an increase in clinicians leaving clinical practice, we anticipate worsening access to primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline B Britz
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC). )
| | - Alison N Huffstetler
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - E Marshall Brooks
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - Alicia Richards
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - Roy T Sabo
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - Ben K Webel
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - Neil McCray
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
| | - Alex H Krist
- From the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (JBB, ANH, EMB, AR, RTS, BKW, AHK), Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Washington, DC (ANH), Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, Richmond, VA (NMC)
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15
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Sheppler CR, Larson AE, Boston D, O'Connor PJ, Cook N, McGrath BM, Stange KC, Gold R. Pandemic-related practice changes and CVD risk management in community clinics. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MANAGED CARE 2024; 30:43-48. [PMID: 38271581 PMCID: PMC10903331 DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2024.89485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk monitoring in primary care may inform new approaches for addressing modifiable CVD risks. This study examined how pandemic-driven changes in primary care delivery affected CVD risk management processes. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective study used electronic health record data from patients at 70 primary care community clinics with scheduled appointments from September 1, 2018, to September 30, 2021. METHODS Analyses examined associations between appointment type and select care process measures: appointment completion rates, time to appointment, and up-to-date documentation for blood pressure (BP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). RESULTS Of 1,179,542 eligible scheduled primary care appointments, completion rates were higher for virtual care (VC) vs in-person appointments (10.7 percentage points [PP]; 95% CI, 10.5-11.0; P < .001). Time to appointment was shorter for VC vs in-person appointments (-3.9 days; 95% CI, -4.1 to -3.7; P < .001). BP documentation was higher for appointments completed pre- vs post pandemic onset (16.2 PP; 95% CI, 16.0-16.5; P < .001) and for appointments completed in person vs VC (54.9 PP; 95% CI, 54.6-55.2; P < .001). HbA1c documentation was higher for completed appointments after pandemic onset vs before (5.9 PP; 95% CI, 5.1-6.7; P < .001) and for completed VC appointments vs in-person appointments (3.9 PP; 95% CI, 3.0-4.7; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS After pandemic onset, appointment completion rates were higher, time to appointment was shorter, HbA1c documentation increased, and BP documentation decreased. Future research should explore the advantages of using VC for CVD risk management while continuing to monitor for unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rachel Gold
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, 3800 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227.
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16
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Fossum GH, Brænd AM, Heltveit-Olsen SR, Rørtveit G, Høye S, Straand J. Symptoms, symptom severity, and contact with primary health care among nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients: a Norwegian web-based survey. Scand J Prim Health Care 2023; 41:427-434. [PMID: 37843023 PMCID: PMC11001316 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2023.2266477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dependent on clinical setting, geography and timing during the pandemic, variable symptoms of COVID-19 have been reported. Our aim was to describe self-reported symptom intensity and contact with primary health care among nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients. DESIGN Web-based survey. SETTING Norway between March 2020 and July 2021. SUBJECTS Adults in home isolation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants reported possible COVID-19 symptoms, duration of symptoms, score of symptom severity (Likert scale 0-3), risk factors, comorbidity, and questions regarding follow-up and information from primary health care. RESULTS Of 477 participants, 379 (79%) had PCR-confirmed COVID-19, 324 (68%) were females, and 90% were younger than 60 years. Most common symptoms were "fatigue and/or muscle ache" (80%), nasal symptoms (79%), and headache (73%). The mean severity of symptoms was generally low. Symptoms with the highest mean scores were "fatigue and/or muscle ache" (1.51, SD 1.02) and headache (1.27 (SD 1.00). Mean scores for severity ranged from 0.28 (nausea) to 1.51 (fatigue and/or muscle ache). Women reported higher symptom scores than men. For "affected sense of smell and/or taste", patients either reported a high symptom score (24%) or no affliction at all (49%). A third of the participants (32%) were followed-up by primary care health personnel, and almost 40% had sought or received information about COVID-19 from general practitioners. CONCLUSION The mean severity of symptoms among nonhospitalized adult COVID-19 patients was generally low. We found large variations in the occurrence and severity of symptoms between patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guro H. Fossum
- The Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care, Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- General Practice Research Unit (AFE), Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anja Maria Brænd
- The Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care, Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- General Practice Research Unit (AFE), Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Guri Rørtveit
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Research Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sigurd Høye
- The Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care, Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørund Straand
- General Practice Research Unit (AFE), Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Senthinathan A, Thompson W, Gomes Z, Kiflen M, Bonilla AO, Stephenson E, Butt D, O’Neill B, Udell JA, Tu K. Assessing Primary Care Blood Pressure Documentation for Hypertension Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Patient and Provider Groups. CJC Open 2023; 5:916-924. [PMID: 38204848 PMCID: PMC10774078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Primary care electronic medical record (EMR) data can be used to identify, manage, and screen hypertension cases. However, this approach relies on completeness and accessibility of documented blood pressure (BP) values. With the large switch to virtual care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed BP documentation in primary care EMRs during the pandemic, across patient and physician groups. Methods Hypertension-related visits were identified during the pre-pandemic (January 2017 to February 2020) and pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021) periods from a primary care EMR database in Ontario, Canada. Clustered logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship of physician and patient characteristics with an outcome variable of documented BP. A chart review of 3200 hypertension visits without a BP recorded in structured data fields was conducted to determine if BP was recorded in progress notes. Results Pre-pandemic, 75.7% of hypertension-related visits (113,966 of 150,511) had a BP recorded in structured documentation, but this significantly decreased to 36.4% (26,660 of 73,239) during the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18-0.19). For virtual visits, 14.3% (6357 of 44,572) had a documented BP, vs 74.0% (20,056 of 27,089) for in-person visits. Chart review found that 55.9% of hypertension visits had no associated BP in structured documentation, but did have a BP recorded in the progress note. Male providers, compared to female providers, were less likely to record BPs pre-pandemic (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32-0.63) and during the pandemic, for both virtual visits (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32-0.71) and in-person visits (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.33-0.64). Conclusions BP documented in primary care EMRs declined during the pandemic, most likely due to high rates of virtual visits impacting hypertension detection and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arrani Senthinathan
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wade Thompson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zoya Gomes
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Michel Kiflen
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela Ortigoza Bonilla
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ellen Stephenson
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Debra Butt
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Scarborough Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Braden O’Neill
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacob A. Udell
- Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Western Hospital Family Health Team, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kang SY, Kim YS. Experience of Lifetime Health Maintenance Program: An Observational Study of a 30-Year Period of Outpatient Primary Care in a Tertiary Hospital. Korean J Fam Med 2023; 44:281-288. [PMID: 37582665 PMCID: PMC10522474 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.23.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify the clinical content of patients registered with the Lifetime Health Maintenance Program (LHMP) under the care of a single family physician who introduced and operated the program in Korea at a tertiary hospital for over 30 years. METHODS We analyzed the electronic medical records of 745 patients who had registered for more than 3 times with the LHMP under the care of a single family physician between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019. We reviewed medical records from June 1989, when the hospital was established, to February 2022. The participants' age at the time of LHMP enrollment, sex, initial consultation date, final consultation date, and consultation content were evaluated. RESULTS Patients visited the LHMP for various reasons, including acute symptom management, chronic disease management, psychiatric consultation, counseling on health behaviors, health checkups, and vaccination. The top five diagnoses for acute symptom management were upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, dizziness/vertigo, headache, and lower back pain, whereas those for chronic disease management were dyslipidemia, hypertension, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis/osteopenia, and diabetes. More than one in five patients received psychiatric consultation and counseling on health behaviors. As the duration of the program enrollment increased, the proportion of patients visiting the LHMP for acute symptoms, vaccinations, and health checkups also increased. Furthermore, the number of categories of consultation content increased for each patient. CONCLUSION The LHMP emphasized the need to systematize regular primary care physicians in Korea. Policy changes are necessary to strengthen primary care, and the LHMP serves as an intermediate step in organizing regular primary care physicians in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Young Kang
- Department of Family Medicine, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea
| | - Young Sik Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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19
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Russo G, Perelman J, Zapata T, Šantrić-Milićević M. The layered crisis of the primary care medical workforce in the European region: what evidence do we need to identify causes and solutions? HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2023; 21:55. [PMID: 37443059 PMCID: PMC10347862 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-023-00842-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Primary care services are key to population health and for the efficient and equitable organisation of national health systems. This is why they are often financed through public funds. Primary care doctors are instrumental for the delivery of preventive services, continuity of care, and for the referral of patients through the system. These cadres are also the single largest health expenditure at the core of such services. Although recruitment and retention of primary care doctors have always been challenging, shortages are now exacerbated by higher demand for services from aging populations, increased burden of chronic diseases, backlogs from the COVID-19 pandemic, and patient expectations. At the same time, the supply of primary care physicians is constrained by rising retirement rates, internal and external migration, worsening working conditions, budget cuts, and increased burnout. Misalignment between national education sectors and labour markets is becoming apparent, compounding staff shortages and maldistribution. With their predominantly publicly funded health systems and in the aftermath of COVID-19, countries of the European region appear to be now on the cusp of a multi-layered, slow-burning primary care crisis, with almost every country reporting long waiting lists for doctor appointments, shortages of physicians, unfilled vacancies, and consequently, added pressures on hospitals' Accident and Emergency services. This articles collection aims at pulling together the evidence from countries of the European Region on root causes of such workforce crisis, impacts, and effectiveness of existing policies to mitigate it. Original research is needed, offering analysis and fresh insights into the primary care medical workforce crisis in wider Europe. Ultimately, the aim of this articles collection is to provide an evidence basis for the identification of policy solutions to present and future primary health care crises in high as well as lower-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliano Russo
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian Perelman
- Nova National School of Public Health and Comprehensive Health Research Center, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tomas Zapata
- Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Milena Šantrić-Milićević
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Management, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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20
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Costello RE, Tazare J, Piehlmaier D, Herrett E, Parker EP, Zheng B, Mansfield KE, Henderson AD, Carreira H, Bidulka P, Wong AY, Warren-Gash C, Hayes JF, Quint JK, MacKenna B, Mehrkar A, Eggo RM, Katikireddi SV, Tomlinson L, Langan SM, Mathur R. Ethnic differences in the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical monitoring and hospitalisations for non-COVID conditions in England: a population-based, observational cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 61:102077. [PMID: 37434746 PMCID: PMC10331810 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare and may have impacted ethnic inequalities in healthcare. We aimed to describe the impact of pandemic-related disruption on ethnic differences in clinical monitoring and hospital admissions for non-COVID conditions in England. Methods In this population-based, observational cohort study we used primary care electronic health record data with linkage to hospital episode statistics data and mortality data within OpenSAFELY, a data analytics platform created, with approval of NHS England, to address urgent COVID-19 research questions. We included adults aged 18 years and over registered with a TPP practice between March 1, 2018, and April 30, 2022. We excluded those with missing age, sex, geographic region, or Index of Multiple Deprivation. We grouped ethnicity (exposure), into five categories: White, Asian, Black, Other, and Mixed. We used interrupted time-series regression to estimate ethnic differences in clinical monitoring frequency (blood pressure and Hba1c measurements, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma annual reviews) before and after March 23, 2020. We used multivariable Cox regression to quantify ethnic differences in hospitalisations related to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and mental health before and after March 23, 2020. Findings Of 33,510,937 registered with a GP as of 1st January 2020, 19,064,019 were adults, alive and registered for at least 3 months, 3,010,751 met the exclusion criteria and 1,122,912 were missing ethnicity. This resulted in 14,930,356 adults with known ethnicity (92% of sample): 86.6% were White, 7.3% Asian, 2.6% Black, 1.4% Mixed ethnicity, and 2.2% Other ethnicities. Clinical monitoring did not return to pre-pandemic levels for any ethnic group. Ethnic differences were apparent pre-pandemic, except for diabetes monitoring, and remained unchanged, except for blood pressure monitoring in those with mental health conditions where differences narrowed during the pandemic. For those of Black ethnicity, there were seven additional admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis per month during the pandemic, and relative ethnic differences narrowed during the pandemic compared to the White ethnic group (Pre-pandemic hazard ratio (HR): 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41, 0.60, Pandemic HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.87). There was increased admissions for heart failure during the pandemic for all ethnic groups, though highest in those of White ethnicity (heart failure risk difference: 5.4). Relatively, ethnic differences narrowed for heart failure admission in those of Asian (Pre-pandemic HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.49, 1.64, Pandemic HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.19, 1.29) and Black ethnicity (Pre-pandemic HR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.53, Pandemic HR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.09, 1.25) compared with White ethnicity. For other outcomes the pandemic had minimal impact on ethnic differences. Interpretation Our study suggests that ethnic differences in clinical monitoring and hospitalisations remained largely unchanged during the pandemic for most conditions. Key exceptions were hospitalisations for diabetic ketoacidosis and heart failure, which warrant further investigation to understand the causes. Funding LSHTM COVID-19 Response Grant (DONAT15912).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Tazare
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dominik Piehlmaier
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University of Sussex Business School, Jubilee Building, Brighton, UK
| | - Emily Herrett
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Bang Zheng
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joseph F. Hayes
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer K. Quint
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Brian MacKenna
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Amir Mehrkar
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Rohini Mathur
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre for Primary Care, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
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Delays in gender affirming healthcare due to COVID-19 are mitigated by expansion of telemedicine. Am J Surg 2023; 225:367-373. [PMID: 36182596 PMCID: PMC9500094 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender-affirming healthcare is vital for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients, and during the pandemic, accessing healthcare became challenging. Hypothesizing that many had procedures postponed, we sought to characterize the impact of the pandemic on TGD patients. METHODS A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys and interviews; Duke patients were identified by ICD-10 codes, while non-Duke (national) patients were recruited through online social media. RESULTS All specialties increased telemedicine usage during the pandemic. Duke surgical patients reported a nearly three-fold increase in telemedicine access. COVID-19 symptoms were reported by 24% of Duke and 20% of national patients; barriers to urgent care included the fear of discrimination (27%). CONCLUSION Delays were experienced in all domains of care, mitigated in part by telemedicine. Nearly one-third of patients cite discrimination as a barrier to care. Though pandemic-related expansion of telemedicine may be a marker of success, significant barriers still complicate delivery of healthcare.
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22
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Tangcharoensathien V, Vandelaer J, Brown R, Suphanchaimat R, Boonsuk P, Patcharanarumol W. Learning from pandemic responses: Informing a resilient and equitable health system recovery in Thailand. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1065883. [PMID: 36761120 PMCID: PMC9906810 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1065883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This article is part of the Research Topic 'Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict'. The third quarter of 2022 saw COVID-19 cases and deaths in Thailand reduced significantly, and high levels of COVID-19 vaccine coverage. COVID-19 was declared an "endemic" disease, and economic activities resumed. This paper reviews pre-pandemic health systems capacity and identifies pandemic response strengths, weaknesses and lessons that guided resilient and equitable health system recovery. Robust health systems and adaptive strategies drive an effective pandemic response. To support health system recovery Thailand should (1) minimize vulnerability and extend universal health coverage to include migrant workers and dependents; (2) sustain provincial primary healthcare (PHC) capacity and strengthen PHC in greater Bangkok; (3) leverage information technology for telemedicine and teleconsultation; (4) enhance and extend case and event-based surveillance of notifiable diseases, and for public health threats, including pathogens with pandemic potential in wildlife and domesticated animals. This requires policy and financial commitment across successive governments, adequate numbers of committed and competent health workforce at all levels supported by over a million village health volunteers, strong social capital and community resilience. A strengthened global health architecture and international collaboration also have critical roles in establishing local capacities to develop and manufacture pandemic response products through transfer of technology and know-how. Countries should engage in the ongoing Inter-government Negotiating Body to ensure a legally binding instrument to safeguard the world from catastrophic impacts of future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viroj Tangcharoensathien
- International Health Policy Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand,*Correspondence: Viroj Tangcharoensathien ✉
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23
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Tsang RSM, Joy M, Byford R, Robertson C, Anand SN, Hinton W, Mayor N, Kar D, Williams J, Victor W, Akbari A, Bradley DT, Murphy S, O’Reilly D, Owen RK, Chuter A, Beggs J, Howsam G, Sheikh A, Hobbs FDR, de Lusignan S. Adverse events following first and second dose COVID-19 vaccination in England, October 2020 to September 2021: a national vaccine surveillance platform self-controlled case series study. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2200195. [PMID: 36695484 PMCID: PMC9853944 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.3.2200195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundPost-authorisation vaccine safety surveillance is well established for reporting common adverse events of interest (AEIs) following influenza vaccines, but not for COVID-19 vaccines.AimTo estimate the incidence of AEIs presenting to primary care following COVID-19 vaccination in England, and report safety profile differences between vaccine brands.MethodsWe used a self-controlled case series design to estimate relative incidence (RI) of AEIs reported to the national sentinel network, the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Informatics Digital Hub. We compared AEIs (overall and by clinical category) 7 days pre- and post-vaccination to background levels between 1 October 2020 and 12 September 2021.ResultsWithin 7,952,861 records, 781,200 individuals (9.82%) presented to general practice with 1,482,273 AEIs, 4.85% within 7 days post-vaccination. Overall, medically attended AEIs decreased post-vaccination against background levels. There was a 3-7% decrease in incidence within 7 days after both doses of Comirnaty (RI: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91-0.94 and RI: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94-0.98, respectively) and Vaxzevria (RI: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.98). A 20% increase was observed after one dose of Spikevax (RI: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.00-1.44). Fewer AEIs were reported as age increased. Types of AEIs, e.g. increased neurological and psychiatric conditions, varied between brands following two doses of Comirnaty (RI: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.28-1.56) and Vaxzevria (RI: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.97-1.78).ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccines are associated with a small decrease in medically attended AEI incidence. Sentinel networks could routinely report common AEI rates, contributing to reporting vaccine safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby SM Tsang
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Joy
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Byford
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Robertson
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom,Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sneha N Anand
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - William Hinton
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nikhil Mayor
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Debasish Kar
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John Williams
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - William Victor
- Royal College of General Practitioners, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Akbari
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, United Kingdom
| | - Declan T Bradley
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom,Public Health Agency, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan Murphy
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Dermot O’Reilly
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon K Owen
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, United Kingdom
| | - Antony Chuter
- BREATHE – The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jillian Beggs
- BREATHE – The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Howsam
- Royal College of General Practitioners, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - FD Richard Hobbs
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,Royal College of General Practitioners, London, United Kingdom
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Siebenhofer A, Scott AM, Avian A, Terebessy A, Mergenthal K, Schaffler-Schaden D, Bachler H, Huter S, Zelko E, Murray A, Guppy M, Piccoliori G, Streit S, Jeitler K, Flamm M. COVI-Prim international: Similarities and discrepancies in the way general practices from seven different countries coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1072515. [PMID: 36600939 PMCID: PMC9806865 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1072515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives General practitioners (GPs) are frequently patients' first point of contact with the healthcare system and play an important role in identifying, managing and monitoring cases. This study investigated the experiences of GPs from seven different countries in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design International cross-sectional online survey. Setting General practitioners from Australia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. Participants Overall, 1,642 GPs completed the survey. Main outcome measures We focused on how well-prepared GPs were, their self-confidence and concerns, efforts to control the spread of the disease, patient contacts, information flow, testing procedures and protection of staff. Results GPs gave high ratings to their self-confidence (7.3, 95% CI 7.1-7.5) and their efforts to control the spread of the disease (7.2, 95% CI 7.0-7.3). A decrease in the number of patient contacts (5.7, 95% CI 5.4-5.9), the perception of risk (5.3 95% CI 4.9-5.6), the provision of information to GPs (4.9, 95% CI 4.6-5.2), their testing of suspected cases (3.7, 95% CI 3.4-3.9) and their preparedness to face a pandemic (mean: 3.5; 95% CI 3.2-3.7) were rated as moderate. GPs gave low ratings to their ability to protect staff (2.2 95% CI 1.9-2.4). Differences were identified in all dimensions except protection of staff, which was consistently low in all surveyed GPs and countries. Conclusion Although GPs in the different countries were confronted with the same pandemic, its impact on specific aspects differed. This partly reflected differences in health care systems and experience of recent pandemics. However, it also showed that the development of structured care plans in case of future infectious diseases requires the early involvement of primary care representatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Siebenhofer
- Institute of General Practice and Evidence-Based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria,Institute of General Practice, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anna Mae Scott
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, QL, Australia
| | - Alexander Avian
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria,*Correspondence: Alexander Avian
| | - András Terebessy
- Department of Public Health-Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karola Mergenthal
- Institute of General Practice, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden
- Institute for General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Herbert Bachler
- Institute of General Practice, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sebastian Huter
- Institute for General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Erika Zelko
- Faculty of Medicine, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Amanda Murray
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Gold Coast, QL, Australia
| | - Michelle Guppy
- School of Rural Medicine and New England GP Research Network, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Giuliano Piccoliori
- Institute for Special Training in General Medicine, Institute of General Practice, Claudiana Bozen, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sven Streit
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Jeitler
- Institute of General Practice and Evidence-Based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria,Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Maria Flamm
- Institute for General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Association between COVID-19 and subsequent vascular events in primary care patients in Germany. Public Health 2022; 213:107-113. [PMID: 36403399 PMCID: PMC9574461 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 diagnosis and the risk of developing a first-ever vascular event (VE) compared with the same risk in those with respiratory tract infection (RTI). STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study. METHODS This study using data from Disease Analyzer Database (IQVIA) included patients aged ≥18 years with at least one visit to a German practice during the index period. VEs were defined as cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. Two cohorts were created: patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and those diagnosed with RTI. These were matched using propensity scores. Kaplan-Meier curves were created for the purposes of time to event analysis. A Poisson model was used to calculate incidence rates and derive incidence rate ratios (IRRs). RESULTS A total of 58,904 patients were matched. There was no significant association between COVID-19 diagnosis and increased incidence of VE events among females (IRR [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.96 [0.82-1.11] and 1.30 [0.88-1.81]) or males (IRR, 95% CI: 0.91 [0.78-1.05] and 1.13 [0.80-1.62]). Overall, no significant association between COVID-19 diagnosis and incidence of VE was observed across age categories except for cardiovascular vascular events in the age category ≥70 years (IRR [95% CI]: 0.78 [0.67-0.94]). CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study suggests that COVID-19 diagnosis was not associated with an increased risk of developing VE compared with RTI diagnosis. However, further research in a variety of healthcare settings and regions is needed to confirm these preliminary findings from our cohort, which is a good reflection of routine clinical practice in Germany.
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Stephenson E, Yusuf A, Gronsbell J, Tu K, Melamed O, Mitiku T, Selby P, O'Neill B. Disruptions in Primary Care among People with Schizophrenia in Ontario, Canada, During the COVID-19 Pandemic. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2022:7067437221140384. [PMID: 36453004 PMCID: PMC9720063 DOI: 10.1177/07067437221140384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate how primary care access, intensity and quality of care changed among patients living with schizophrenia before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. METHODS This cohort study was performed using primary care electronic medical record data from the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network (UTOPIAN), a network of > 500 family physicians in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected during primary care visits from 2643 patients living with schizophrenia. Rates of primary care health service use (in-person and virtual visits with family physicians) and key preventive health indices indicated in antipsychotic monitoring (blood pressure readings, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol and complete blood cell count [CBC] tests) were measured and compared in the 12 months before and after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Access to in-person care dropped with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first year of the pandemic only 39.5% of patients with schizophrenia had at least one in-person visit compared to 81.0% the year prior. There was a corresponding increase in virtual visits such that 78.0% of patients had a primary care appointment virtually during the pandemic period. Patients prescribed injectable antipsychotics were more likely to continue having more frequent in-person appointments during the pandemic than patients prescribed only oral or no antipsychotic medications. The proportion of patients who did not have recommended tests increased from 41.0% to 72.4% for blood pressure readings, from 48.9% to 60.2% for hemoglobin A1c, from 57.0% to 67.8% for LDL cholesterol and 45.0% to 56.0% for CBC tests during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS There were substantial decreases in preventive care after the onset of the pandemic, although primary care access was largely maintained through virtual care. Addressing these deficiencies will be essential to promoting health equity and reducing the risk of poor health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Stephenson
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abban Yusuf
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Gronsbell
- Department of Statistical Sciences, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, 8613North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, 26625Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Osnat Melamed
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tezeta Mitiku
- Department of Psychiatry, 6363University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Selby
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Braden O'Neill
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 7938University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, 508783Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ryan BL, Brown JB, Freeman TR, Richard L, Stewart M, Meredith L, Choi YH, He JW, Cejic S, Thompson K, Reichert S, Shariff SZ, Booth R, Terry AL, Mathews M. Virtual family physician care during COVID-19: a mixed methods study using health administrative data and qualitative interviews. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:300. [PMID: 36434524 PMCID: PMC9700898 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01902-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift in primary health care from predominantly in-person to high volumes of virtual care. The pandemic afforded the opportunity to conduct a deep regional examination of virtual care by family physicians in London and Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada that would inform the foundation for virtual care in our region post-pandemic. OBJECTIVES (1) to determine volumes of in-person and virtual family physicians visits and characteristics of the family physicians and patients using them during the early COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to determine how virtual visit volumes changed over the pandemic, compared to in-person; and (3) to explore family physicians' experience in virtual visit adoption and implementation. METHODS We conducted a concurrent mixed-methods study of family physicians from March to October 2020. The quantitative component examined mean weekly number of total, in-person and virtual visits using health administrative data. Differences in outcomes according to physician and practice characteristics for pandemic periods were compared to pre-pandemic. The qualitative study employed Constructivist Grounded Theory, conducting semi-structured family physicians interviews; analyzing data iteratively using constant comparative analysis. We mapped themes from the qualitative analysis to quantitative findings. RESULTS Initial volumes of patients decreased, driven by fewer in-person visits. Virtual visit volumes increased dramatically; family physicians described using telephone almost entirely. Rural family physicians reported video connectivity issues. By early second wave, total family physician visit volume returned to pre-pandemic volumes. In-person visits increased substantially; family physicians reported this happened because previously scarce personal protective equipment became available. Patients seen during the pandemic were older, sicker, and more materially deprived. CONCLUSION These results can inform the future of virtual family physician care including the importance of continued virtual care compensation, the need for equitable family physician payment models, and the need to attend to equity for vulnerable patients. Given the move to virtual care was primarily a move to telephone care, the modality of care delivery that is acceptable to both family physicians and their patients must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget L. Ryan
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Moira Stewart
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Leslie Meredith
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Yun-Hee Choi
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Jennifer Wei He
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Sonny Cejic
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Keith Thompson
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Sonja Reichert
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Salimah Z. Shariff
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada ,ICES Western, London, Canada
| | - Richard Booth
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Amanda L. Terry
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
| | - Maria Mathews
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Western University, London, Canada
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