The role of general practitioners in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in a private healthcare system.

Details

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_1D37498976FE
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The role of general practitioners in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in a private healthcare system.
Journal
Family practice
Author(s)
Cohidon C., El Hakmaoui F., Senn N.
ISSN
1460-2229 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0263-2136
Publication state
Published
Issued date
19/07/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
39
Number
4
Pages
586-591
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
The canton of Vaud's public health authorities, in Switzerland, invited general practitioners (GPs) to participate in managing suspected COVID-19 patients and continue caring for their non-COVID-19 patients. However, this course of action was not mandatory. The present study's objective was to describe and understand how involved GPs were in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave.
This mixed-methods study combined a retrospective quantitative survey and a qualitative explanatory investigation. All of the canton's GPs were invited to participate in the quantitative survey via an online questionnaire including sections on: specific organization regarding COVID-19 activities and suspected COVID-19 patients, activities relating to non-COVID-19 patients, consequences on the practice's professional staff, and opinions about the public health authorities' pandemic crisis management. The qualitative investigation involved interviews with 10 volunteer GPs.
The participation rate was 41%. One third of GPs chose not to reorganize their practice for the specific management of suspected COVID-19 patients. The number of weekly activities and interventions decreased by over 50% at 44% of practices, mostly due to a lack of patients. Even in an extraordinary crisis, GPs maintained their choice of whether to become involved, as their private and independent status allowed them to do. However, those who chose to be involved felt frustrated that the public health authorities did not recognize them as major health providers in the management of the pandemic.
This study illustrated the complexity and limitations of a primary care system based completely on private healthcare providers.
Keywords
COVID-19/epidemiology, Delivery of Health Care, General Practitioners, Humans, Pandemics, Retrospective Studies, COVID-19 pandemic management, acknowledgment of role, communication, general practitioners, private healthcare system, public health authorities
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
27/09/2021 10:43
Last modification date
21/01/2023 6:46
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