COVID-19 Collection: Global Primary Care During COVID-19

Return to the Covid-19 Collection

global primary care during covid-19

AFRICA

The need for a balanced hospital-based care (HBC) and home- and community-based care (HCBC) approach for COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa 

Harris Onywera, Lamech M. Mwapagha, Nei-Yuan Hsiao

A standardized home- and community-based (HCBC) approach for management of COVID-19 patients will be a key component for preparing hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases. Successful implementation and maintenance of HCBC in SSA will require international agencies and key donors to work closely with the national governments; providing them with policy, technical, and financial assistance. 12 June 2020. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/156028

ASIA

COVID-19: Notes from the Frontline, Singapore’s Primary Healthcare Perspective 

Wei Han Lim, Wei Mon Wong

Singapore is known to have promptly instituted aggressive public health and containment measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The authors describe their framework for how their primary care clinics are responding to this pandemic in the hope that others may find solutions to their unique needs. ­­Accepted 3/26/2020; Published 5/11/2020; URL: https://www.annfammed.org/content/18/3/259

CANADA

Quick COVID-19 Primary Care Survey of Clinicians: Summary of the weekly pan-Canadian survey of frontline primary care clinicians’ experience with COVID-19, Series 2 results.

Sabrina Wong
The Primary and Integrated Health Care Innovations Network; The Canadian Institutes for Health Research Strategy for Patient Oriented Research; Nova Scotia Health Authority, Doctors of BC and Doctors Nova Scotia, Larry A. Green Center

Series 3 results
Series 4 results
Series 6-11 results

EUROPE

THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON PRIMARY HEALTHCARE DISEASE INCIDENCE RATES: 2017 TO 2020

Antoni Sisó-Almirall, Belchin Kostov, Encarna Sánchez, Jaume Benavent-Àreu, Luis González-de-Paz
Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine (CAMFiC)

We analyzed variations in the annual incidence of the main cardiovascular risk factors, prevalent chronic diseases, common mental health disorders and neoplasms in 2020 compared with 2017-2019. In 2020, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcohol use disorder, benign tumors, and melanomas. Only anxiety disorders increased significantly (IRR 1.16; 95% CI 1.07-1.24). Prioritization of COVID-19 care has changed the doctor-patient relationship to the detriment of face-to-face scheduled visits of chronic disease detection and monitoring protocols. 12 May, 2021. Under Review, online-collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/167403

Clinical Usefulness Of Sars-Cov-2 Rapid Antigen Tests In Adults During High Prevalence Community Outbreaks

Jose R. Seco, Raul Curado, Ana M. Mateos, Jorge F. Almeida, Ruben Ruiz-Mateos, Ruth Garcia, Gabriel Gomez, Juan D. Checa
Hospital Universitario Virgen de Valme

We evaluated performance of Abbott PanBio® COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Device (RATD) to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults during high prevalence COVID-19 outbreaks. We found high accuracy in correct diagnosis (88% CI 85-91%, p<0.05) regardless of gender, presence of symptoms, disease timeline. Test sensitivity appeared to increase with age, specificity seemed to decline. Best diagnostic accuracy was obtained in middle-aged adults (94% CI 89-97%, p<0.05), but remained high through all ages. These results support RATD as a reliable measure to determine isolation of infected individuals during outbreaks. More studies are needed to assess RATD performance in low prevalence post-vaccination scenarios. 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166596

A Reflection on our Drive Through Flu Vaccine Clinic "Vires Rebus Adversis"

Tadhg Crowley

Facing great demand for the flu vaccine toward the end of 2020, and wanting to keep both patients and staff safe, the authors set about organizing Ireland's first drive-through flu vaccine clinic. During a ten-week period, (September 29th to December 5th, 2020) 1754 adult patients and 908 pediatric patients were vaccinated in their cars. On evaluation of this clinical innovation, which suggested high levels of satisfaction amongst staff and patients, we intend to replicate this approach for delivery of the Covid vaccine. 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166586

Renaissance of family medicine in Romania during Covid-19 era

Elena Popa, Teodota Tetia, Adorata Coman

In this paper, we would like to share the experience we had in Romania during the pandemic and how we reacted locally to the challenges induced by this tragic, difficult to control period. We are located in a large urban area and the office is part of a polyclinic. The number of patients registered is over 2600, with a relatively equal distribution by age categories. 17 November 2020. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/163516

Hand in hand towards a better care: an experience of patient-professional collaboration during COVID-19 pandemic

Esperanza Martin Correa, Gemma Vallespin

The difficulties that the health system has had in providing an adequate response and care for people with Long covid, united by the uncertainty of facing an unknown disease, has led them to share their experiences through social networks and to organize themselves in groups. Some primary care (PC) professionals have collaborated with these groups. The coordinated work of professionals and patients has made it possible to develop a joint care proposal for people affected with Long covid in PC that facilitates the construction of joint knowledge through observation, monitoring and the study of all of those involved. 11 November 2020. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/163507

The COVID-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands: Impact on Primary Care

Henk Schers, Chris van Weel, Kees Van Boven, Erik Bischoff, Tim olde Hartman

The authors present the first empirical data of the impact of COVID-19 on daily practice of family medicine in the Netherlands, studying the resulting changes in presented health problems and demand for primary care. They stress the importance of securing care for all health problems in primary care’s preparations for a major epidemic, to avoid the collateral damage of health systems’ single-minded focus on the epidemic. 10 April 2020. Accepted 7/24/2020; Published 1/11/2021 URL: https://www.annfammed.org/content/19/1/44

Innovative healthcare organization to deal with COVID-19 in primary health care in the Haute-Garonne department, France 

Laëtitia Gimenez, Julie DuPouy, Bruno Chicoulaa, Pierre Ricordeau, Marie-Eve Rouge-Bugat, Stéphane Oustric

Primary care health professionals rapidly developed a collaborative approach, including a shared digital tool, to the management of COVID-19 among hospital health professionals (emergency and infectiology services) and medical regulatory services, and local health, research and governmental stakeholders. The authors identify key elements that guarantee the efficiency of primary care, which remains the “gatekeeper” of a care pathway adapted to the patient's needs. 1 May 2020. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/154862

Clinical Features of Covid-19 in Barcelona City

Antoni Sisó-Almirall, Belchin Kostov, Minerva Mas-Heredia, Sergi Vilanova-Rotllan, Ethel Sequeira-Aymar, Mireia Sans-Corrales, Elisenda Sant-Arderiu, Laia Cayuelas-Redondo, Angela Martínez-Perez, Noemí García Planas, August Anguita-Guimet, Jaume Benavent-Àreu

In Spain, the first positive case of SARS-Cov-2 was diagnosed on 31 January 2020. As of 7 May 2020, there have been 221,447 cases, the most in any European Union country. This study aimed to describe the clinical, biological and radiological manifestations, the evolution, treatments and mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 infection in the population of Barcelona city. 8 May, 2020. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/155329

OCEANIA

AUSTRALIA

Quick COVID Clinician Survey Summary (Australia), series 1-4

Kirsty Douglas, Kathleen O'Brien, Sally Hall, Katelyn Barnes
Academic Unit of General Practice, ACT Health Directorate, Australian National University Medical School; Advisory Group, Larry A. Green Center

These quick surveys of practicing clinicians' experiences dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, developed with the Larry Green Center in the US, have been administered since April of 2020. This PDF combines the series 1-4 summaries covering the time period of April, to July 17th, 2020. Posted 22 March, 2021. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166587

Series 5-8 summaries covering late July, through mid-September, 2020. Posted 22 March, 2021. Nonrefereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166588

Series 9-13 summaries covering mid-September, 2020 through mid-February, 2021. Posted 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166589

Integrating General Practice into the Australian COVID-19 response: A description of the GP Respiratory Clinic program in Australia

Leslee Roberts, Jane Desborough, Sally Hall Dykgraaf, Penelope Burns, Michael Kidd, Raglan Maddox, Lucas de Toca, Kamalini Lokuge, Stephanie Davis
Australian National University

Integrating primary care within the health response is key to managing pandemics and other health emergencies. In recognition of this role the Australian Government established a network of General Practitioner (GP) led respiratory clinics (GPRCs) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a suite of broader measures aimed at sustaining community access to primary care. GPRCs provide holistic face to face assessment and treatment to those with respiratory symptoms in an environment with strict protocols for infection prevention and control; ensuring that this patient cohort is able to access high quality primary care whilst protecting the General Practice workforce and other patients. The GPRC model was rapidly developed and operationalised with the first 2 GPRCs opening on March 21, 10 days after the policy was announced. Subsequently a total of 150 GPRCs have opened with broad geographic coverage that have serviced over 800,000 individuals living in more than 99% of Australia's postcodes. Through use of a standardised data collection tool GPRCs also provide the largest and most complete source of primary care surveillance data of respiratory illness in Australia. The success of the GPRC model has been possible through strong partnerships with Primary Health Networks and individual general practices who rapidly shifted operations to embrace this new approach. The GPRC network offers ongoing infrastructure and workforce capability to manage other health emergencies, and may be able to be adapted to other settings. 16 March, 2021. Under Review, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166482

NEW ZEALAND

Quick COVID-19 New Zealand Primary Care Survey, series 1-4

Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Nam Bui, Kyle Eggleton
University of Auckland; Advisory Group, Larry A. Green Center

These quick surveys of practicing clinicians' experiences dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, developed with the Larry Green Center in the US, have been administered since May of 2020. This PDF combines the series 1-4 summaries covering the time period of late March, to August 6th, 2020. Posted 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166590

Series 5-8 summaries covering the time period of late March, to August 6th, 2020. Posted 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166592

Series 9-11 summaries covering the time period of November, 2020 through February 18. 2021. Posted 22 March, 2021. Non-refereed, online collection only. Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166593
 

Quick COVID-19 New Zealand Primary Care Survey - all results

University of Auckland Results page with access to all infographics and executive summaries for Quick Covid-19 Surveys.