Patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the primary care consultations for acute respiratory infections during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an eight-country qualitative study in Europe

• DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2021.0172
• Publication Date: 2022-01-14T14:40:13Z
• Authors: Marta Wanat; Melanie Eugenie H...; Nina Helene Gobat; Marilena Anastasaki; Femke Böhmer; Slawomir Chlabicz; Annelies Colliers; Karen Farrell; Sophie Hollerbach; Maria-Nefeli Karkana; John Kinsman; Christos Lionis; Ludmila Marcinowicz; Katrin Reinhardt; Ingmarie Skoglund; Pär-Daniel Sundvall; Akke Vellinga; Herman Goossens; Christopher C Butler; Alike van der Velden; Sibyl Anthierens; Sarah Tonkin-Crine
• Keywords: Pandemic; Thematic Analysis

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients' and clinicians' perceptions healthcare-seeking behaviour delivery care is unclear. accelerated use remote care, understanding its benefits drawbacks may inform implementation during current future healthcare emergencies.To explore primary professionals' (PCPs) experiences in first wave pandemic.Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews eight European countries (England, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Germany).A total 146 were conducted with 80 PCPs 66 patients consulting for respiratory tract infection (RTI) symptoms, countries. Data collected between April July 2020, analysed thematic analysis.It was found that accepted telemedicine when spent time to understand address their concerns, but a minority preferred in-person consultations. felt consultations created emotional distance themselves patients, they reported having manage diverse COVID-19-related medical social concerns.Remote RTI symptoms be acceptable long term if both groups are happy this format, it important take concerns provide safety-netting advice.