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Stark S, Schaubroeck E, Kluge M, Burggraf L, Roos M, Borowski E, Van Poel E, Willems S, Kühlein T, Hueber S, Werner F. "The measures taken by the government overburdened the daily practice" - insights of the PRICOV-19 study on German general practitioners in times of COVID-19. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2023; 24:207. [PMID: 37821802 PMCID: PMC10568746 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02115-4] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The international study PRICOV-19 aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organisation of primary health care. The German part focuses on German general practitioners during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper addresses the following research questions: (1) How were changes in tasks on primary care and patient treatment perceived by GPs?, (2) What was the role of GPs during the pandemic, and how was their wellbeing?, (3) How did GPs perceive health policy measures?, and, (4) What influenced the attitudes of GPs on health policy measures? METHODS This study pursues a multi-country cross-sectional design. Data collection took place throughout Germany from 01.02. to 28.02.2021 with a quantitative online questionnaire consisting of 53 items. The questionnaire was analysed through descriptive and inferential analyses using correlation and multiple regression models. RESULTS The response rate was 20.4% (n = 349). The respondents were mainly GPs (59.6%) in single practices (62.5%) with a mean work experience of 15 to 20 years. GPs experienced a change in their work and practice organisation (80.3%). They felt a high responsibility (70.6%) and found their work has become more meaningful to them (76%). They also saw a lack of political support (75.2%) and that the measures taken by the government overburdened the daily practice (66.4%). Not many GPs were at risk of being distressed (53.4%) but rated the health policies rather negatively (60%). The multiple regression showed, the more GPs were exposed to risk of distress, the worse they assessed the government's measures. CONCLUSION GPs perceived their work as relevant and felt confident they could fulfil their tasks, but noticed that health policy initially hardly supported the outpatient sector. Health policies should increase their competence in relation to primary care, ensure its needs and consider an active inclusion of GPs in preparedness plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Stark
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Emmily Schaubroeck
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie Kluge
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Larissa Burggraf
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Department for Sociology, University of Education, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
| | - Marco Roos
- General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Eve Borowski
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Esther Van Poel
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara Willems
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Kühlein
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susann Hueber
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felix Werner
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Hagenbeck C, Soff J, Mause L, Hoffmann J, Ohnhäuser T, Stöcker A, Zöllkau J, Scholten N. Gynaecologists' perceptions of outpatient gynaecologic and obstetric care in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1079. [PMID: 37817213 PMCID: PMC10566176 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10045-1] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on society, affecting medical care as well as the utilization of medical services. We aimed to identify pandemic-related changes in gynaecologic/obstetric care through the personal experience of practitioners in the outpatient sector in Germany. Three consecutive anonymous online surveys of practising gynaecologists were conducted during the pandemic (07-09/2020, 11-12/2020 and 09-11/2021). Appointment management, medical supply and patients' demand as well as concomitant circumstances were queried. Data from 860 (393, 262 and 205 from the first, second and third surveys, respectively) respondents were analysed. At the peak of the first COVID-19 wave, more than 50% of the gynaecologists surveyed had cancelled cancer screening appointments. There was a significant association between fear of self-infection and cancellation of cancer screening appointments (p = 0.006). An increase in domestic violence was reported by 13%, an increase in obesity by 67% and more advanced tumours due to delayed screening by 24% of respondents. Primary gynaecological oncological prevention was reduced in supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this shortfall should be addressed in future similar situations. Prenatal care has been offered continuously since the start of the pandemic in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Hagenbeck
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Johannes Soff
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
| | - Laura Mause
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
| | - Jan Hoffmann
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
| | - Tim Ohnhäuser
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
| | - Arno Stöcker
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
| | - Janine Zöllkau
- Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Nadine Scholten
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Köln, Germany
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Kraus M, Stegner C, Reiss M, Riedel M, Børsch AS, Vrangbaek K, Michel M, Turmaine K, Cseh B, Dózsa CL, Dandi R, Mori AR, Czypionka T. The role of primary care during the pandemic: shared experiences from providers in five European countries. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1054. [PMID: 37784101 PMCID: PMC10546726 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09998-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated wide-ranging adaptations to the organisation of health systems, and primary care is no exception. This article aims to collate insights on the role of primary care during the pandemic. The gained knowledge helps to increase pandemic preparedness and resilience. METHODS The role of primary care during the pandemic in five European countries (Austria, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy) was investigated using a qualitative approach, namely case study, based on document analysis and semi-structured interviews. In total, 31 interviews were conducted with primary care providers between June and August 2022. The five country case studies were subjected to an overarching analysis focusing on successful strategies as well as gaps and failures regarding pandemic management in primary care. RESULTS Primary care providers identified disruptions to service delivery as a major challenge emerging from the pandemic which led to a widespread adoption of telehealth. Despite the rapid increase in telehealth usage and efforts of primary care providers to organise face-to-face care delivery in a safe way, some patient groups were particularly affected by disruptions in service delivery. Moreover, primary care providers perceived a substantial propagation of misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines among the population, which also threatened patient-physician relationships. At the same time, primary care providers faced an increased workload, had to work with insufficient personal protective equipment and were provided incongruous guidelines from public authorities. There was a consensus among primary care providers that they were mostly sidelined by public health policy in the context of pandemic management. Primary care providers tackled these problems through a diverse set of measures including home visits, implementing infection control measures, refurbishing used masks, holding internal meetings and relying on their own experiences as well as information shared by colleagues. CONCLUSION Primary care providers were neither well prepared nor the focus of initial policy making. However, they implemented creative solutions to the problems they faced and applying the learnings from the pandemic could help in increasing the resilience of primary care. Attributes of an integrated health system with a strong primary care component proved beneficial in addressing immediate effects of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kraus
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, Vienna, 1080, Austria.
| | - Christoph Stegner
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, Vienna, 1080, Austria
| | - Miriam Reiss
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, Vienna, 1080, Austria
| | - Monika Riedel
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, Vienna, 1080, Austria
| | - Anne Sofie Børsch
- University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K, 1353, Denmark
| | - Karsten Vrangbaek
- University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen K, 1353, Denmark
| | - Morgane Michel
- Université Paris Cité, ECEVE, UMR 1123, 10 avenue de Verdun, Inserm, Paris, 75010, France
- Unité d'épidémiologie clinique, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 boulevard Sérurier, Paris, 75019, France
| | - Kathleen Turmaine
- Université Paris Cité, ECEVE, UMR 1123, 10 avenue de Verdun, Inserm, Paris, 75010, France
| | - Borbála Cseh
- University of Miskolc, Egyetem út 1, Miskolc-Egyetemváros, 3515, Hungary
| | - Csaba László Dózsa
- University of Miskolc, Egyetem út 1, Miskolc-Egyetemváros, 3515, Hungary
| | - Roberto Dandi
- Luiss Business School, Via Nomentana 216, Roma, 00162, RM, Italy
| | - Angelo Rossi Mori
- Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, Via Palestro 32, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Thomas Czypionka
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Josefstädter Straße 39, Vienna, 1080, Austria
- London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK
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Kugai S, Wild D, Krumpholtz Y, Schmidt M, Balzer K, Mayerböck A, Weltermann B. German GPs' Self-Perceived Role in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Leadership, Participation in Regional Services and Preferences for Future Pandemic Preparedness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6088. [PMID: 37372676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
General practitioners (GPs) played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about GPs' view of their role, leadership, participation in regional services and preferences for future pandemic preparedness. This representative study of German GPs comprised a web-based survey and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). It addressed GPs' satisfaction with their role, self-perceived leadership (validated C-LEAD scale), participation in newly established health services, and preferences for future pandemic preparedness (net promotor score; NPS; range -100 to +100%). Statistical analyses were conducted using Spearman's correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests. In total, 630 GPs completed the questionnaire and 102 GPs the CATI. In addition to their practice duties, most GPs (72.5%) participated in at least one regional health service, mainly vaccination centres/teams (52.7%). Self-perceived leadership was high with a C-LEAD score of 47.4 (max. 63; SD ± 8.5). Overall, 58.8% were not satisfied with their role which correlated with the feeling of being left alone (r = -0.349, p < 0.001). 77.5 % of respondents believed that political leaders underestimated GPs' potential contribution to pandemic control. Regarding regional pandemic services, GPs preferred COVID-19 focus practices (NPS +43.7) over diagnostic centres (NPS -31). Many GPs, though highly engaged regionally, were dissatisfied with their role but had clear preferences for future regional services. Future pandemic planning should integrate GPs' perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kugai
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dorothea Wild
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yelda Krumpholtz
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuela Schmidt
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Balzer
- Nursing Research Unit, Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Astrid Mayerböck
- uzbonn, Survey Center Bonn-Center for Empirical Social Research and Evaluation, Oxfordstraße 15, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Birgitta Weltermann
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Stark S, Kluge M, Schaubroeck E, Werner F, van Poel E, Willems S, Roos M, Kühlein T, Burggraf L. "What else to say?"-Primary health care in times of COVID-19 from the perspective of German general practitioners: An exploratory analysis of the open text field in the PRICOV-19 study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282504. [PMID: 36930662 PMCID: PMC10022805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The international collaboration study PRICOV-19 -Primary Health Care in times of COVID-19 aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organisation of primary health care. The German part focuses on the subjective perceptions of general practitioners on primary health care and the impact of political measures during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this survey, the "open text field" of the questionnaire was utilised remarkably frequently and extensively by the respondents. It became clear that the content that was named needed to be analysed in an exploratory manner. Accordingly, this paper addresses the following question: What preoccupies general practitioners in Germany during COVID-19 that we have not yet asked them enough? METHODS The data collection took place throughout Germany from 01.02.2021 to 28.02.2021with a quantitative online questionnaire consisting of 53 items arranged across six topics as well as an "open text field" for further comments. The questionnaire's open text field was analysed following the premises of the qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The topics discussed by the respondents were: insufficient support from health policies, not being prioritised and involved in the vaccination strategy, feeling insufficient prepared, that infrastructural changes and financial concerns threatened the practice, and perceiving the own role as important, as well as that health policies affected the wellbeing of the respondents. One of the main points was the way general practitioners were not sufficiently acknowledged for their contribution to ensuring high-quality care during the pandemic. DISCUSSION German general practitioners perceived their work and role as highly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. In controversy with their perception, they described political conditions in which they were the ones who contributed significantly to the fight against the pandemic but were not given enough recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Stark
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Marie Kluge
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Emmily Schaubroeck
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felix Werner
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Esther van Poel
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara Willems
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marco Roos
- General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kühlein
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Larissa Burggraf
- Institute of General Practice, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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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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Dreher A, Mambrey V, Loerbroks A. Changes of working conditions and job-related challenges due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic for medical assistants in general practices in Germany: a qualitative study. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:273. [PMID: 36329407 PMCID: PMC9632591 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01880-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background In Germany, general practices are usually contacted first by patients with health complaints, including symptoms characteristic of SARS-CoV-2. Within general practices, medical assistants (MAs) are the first contact person for patients and perform various tasks in close physical patient contact. Working conditions of MAs have been characterized as challenging, e.g., due to low salaries, a high workload, time pressure and frequent interruptions. The potential changes of working conditions and job-related challenges experienced by MAs due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have not been fully explored. We aimed to address this knowledge gap among MAs working in general practices in Germany. Methods Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted between March and April 2021 with 24 MAs. Medical assistants of legal age, who worked in general practices in Germany, and who were continuously employed and without change of employer in 2020 were eligible for participation. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and content-analyzed using MAXQDA, using deductive and inductive coding. Results The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic posed great challenges for MAs, including a dramatic increase in workload, changes in occupational tasks, increased hygiene measures, rearrangements of work organization, childcare issues, and structural and personnel challenges within their practice. Participants described both improved but also worsened collaboration with their employers and colleagues due to the pandemic. Many MAs complained about issues regarding SARS-CoV-2-related billing processes and an increase in unpleasant patient behavior, including disregard of practice rules or frequent verbal insults. Many also did not feel adequately appreciated by politics, media, or society for their efforts during the pandemic. Positive changes were perceived to be the expansion of digital communication channels and a growing social cohesiveness of practice teams. Conclusions Our study suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic posed great challenges for MAs. The pandemic seems to have worsened MAs’ working conditions, which had been described as challenging already prior to the pandemic. In order to improve job satisfaction and to prevent loss of healthcare personnel, measures must be taken to improve working conditions of MAs in general practices. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-022-01880-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annegret Dreher
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Viola Mambrey
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Adrian Loerbroks
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
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Litke N, Weis A, Koetsenruijter J, Fehrer V, Koeppen M, Kuemmel S, Szecsenyi J, Wensing M. Building resilience in German primary care practices: a qualitative study. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:221. [PMID: 36056323 PMCID: PMC9436723 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01834-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
In recent years, healthcare has faced many different crises around the world such as HIV-, Ebola- or H1N1-outbrakes, opioid addiction, natural disasters and terrorism attacks). In particular, the current pandemic of Covid-19 has challenged the resilience of health systems. In many healthcare systems, primary care practices play a crucial role in the management of crises as they are often the first point of contact and main health care provider for patients. Therefore, this study explored which situations are perceived as crises by primary care practice teams and potential strategies for crisis management.
Methods
A qualitative observational study was conducted. Data were collected in interviews and focus groups with experts from primary care practices and stakeholders focusing on primary care practices in Germany such as physicians, medical assistants, practice managers, quality managers, hygiene managers and institutions on health system level (politics, research and health insurance). All interviews and focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A qualitative content analysis was performed using a rapid qualitative analysis approach first, followed by a thematic analysis.
Results
Two focus groups and 26 interviews including 40 participating experts were conducted. Many different situations were perceived as crises, varying from issues in the practice organization to problems on health system level and international disasters. Distinct aspects associated with the perception of a crisis situation by interviewees were the presence of emotional reactions, a need for organizational changes and a lack of necessary resources. A broad spectrum of possible strategies was discussed that could help to cope with or even prevent the emergence of an actual crisis. In particular, strengthening communication within practice teams and resilience among employees was perceived to be fundamental for improving responses to crises or preventing them.
Conclusions
The study provides perspectives of primary health care workers on crises in health, that could inform health policy regarding prevention and management of future crises in primary care facilities.
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