TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical pathway of COVID-19 patients in primary health care in 30 European countries
T2 - Eurodata study
AU - Ares-Blanco, Sara
AU - Guisado-Clavero, Marina
AU - Ramos Del Rio, Lourdes
AU - Gefaell Larrondo, Ileana
AU - Fitzgerald, Louise
AU - Adler, Limor
AU - Assenova, Radost
AU - Bakola, Maria
AU - Bayen, Sabine
AU - Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya, Elena
AU - Busneag, Iliana Carmen
AU - Domeyer, Philippe Richard
AU - Gjorgjievski, Dragan
AU - Hoffmann, Kathryn
AU - Ільков,
AU - Trifon Karathanos, Vasilis
AU - Kirkovski, Aleksandar
AU - Knežević, Snežana
AU - Çimen Korkmaz, Büsra
AU - Heleno, Bruno
AU - Nessler, Katarzyna
AU - Murauskienė, Liubovė
AU - Neves, Ana Luisa
AU - Parodi López, Naldy
AU - Perjés, Ábel
AU - Petek, Davorina
AU - Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando
AU - Petricek, Goranka
AU - Seifert, Bohumil
AU - Serafini, Alice
AU - Sentker, Theresa
AU - Tiili, Paula
AU - Torzsa, Péter
AU - Vaes, Bert
AU - van Pottebergh, Gijs
AU - Vinker, Shlomo
AU - Astier-Peña, María Pilar
AU - Gómez-Bravo, Raquel
AU - Lingner, Heidrun
PY - 2023/3/21
Y1 - 2023/3/21
N2 - BACKGROUND: Most COVID-19 patients were treated in primary health care (PHC) in Europe. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the scope of PHC workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasising similarities and differences of patient's clinical pathways in Europe. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with data acquired through a semi-structured questionnaire in PHC in 30 European countries, created ad hoc and agreed upon among all researchers who participated in the study. GPs from each country answered the approved questionnaire. Main variable: PHC COVID-19 acute clinical pathway. All variables were collected from each country as of September 2020. RESULTS: COVID-19 clinics in PHC facilities were organised in 8/30. Case detection and testing were performed in PHC in 27/30 countries. RT-PCR and lateral flow tests were performed in PHC in 23/30, free of charge with a medical prescription. Contact tracing was performed mainly by public health authorities. Mandatory isolation ranged from 5 to 14 days. Sick leave certification was given exclusively by GPs in 21/30 countries. Patient hotels or other resources to isolate patients were available in 12/30. Follow-up to monitor the symptoms and/or new complementary tests was made mainly by phone call (27/30). Chest X-ray and phlebotomy were performed in PHC in 18/30 and 23/30 countries, respectively. Oxygen and low-molecular-weight heparin were available in PHC (21/30). CONCLUSION: In Europe PHC participated in many steps to diagnose, treat and monitor COVID-19 patients. Differences among countries might be addressed at European level for the management of future pandemics.
AB - BACKGROUND: Most COVID-19 patients were treated in primary health care (PHC) in Europe. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the scope of PHC workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasising similarities and differences of patient's clinical pathways in Europe. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with data acquired through a semi-structured questionnaire in PHC in 30 European countries, created ad hoc and agreed upon among all researchers who participated in the study. GPs from each country answered the approved questionnaire. Main variable: PHC COVID-19 acute clinical pathway. All variables were collected from each country as of September 2020. RESULTS: COVID-19 clinics in PHC facilities were organised in 8/30. Case detection and testing were performed in PHC in 27/30 countries. RT-PCR and lateral flow tests were performed in PHC in 23/30, free of charge with a medical prescription. Contact tracing was performed mainly by public health authorities. Mandatory isolation ranged from 5 to 14 days. Sick leave certification was given exclusively by GPs in 21/30 countries. Patient hotels or other resources to isolate patients were available in 12/30. Follow-up to monitor the symptoms and/or new complementary tests was made mainly by phone call (27/30). Chest X-ray and phlebotomy were performed in PHC in 18/30 and 23/30 countries, respectively. Oxygen and low-molecular-weight heparin were available in PHC (21/30). CONCLUSION: In Europe PHC participated in many steps to diagnose, treat and monitor COVID-19 patients. Differences among countries might be addressed at European level for the management of future pandemics.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Europe
KW - patient care management
KW - policy
KW - primary health care
KW - standard of care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163204324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13814788.2023.2182879
DO - 10.1080/13814788.2023.2182879
M3 - Article
C2 - 36943232
AN - SCOPUS:85163204324
VL - 29
JO - European Journal of General Practice
JF - European Journal of General Practice
IS - 2
M1 - 2182879
ER -
