Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review
Contacts in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic : a register-based study. / Huibers, Linda; Bech, Bodil Hammer; Kirk, Ulrik Bak et al.
I: The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Bind 72, Nr. 724, 11.2022, s. e799-e808.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Contacts in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - a register-based study
AU - Huibers, Linda
AU - Bech, Bodil Hammer
AU - Kirk, Ulrik Bak
AU - Kallestrup, Per
AU - Vestergaard, Claus Høstrup
AU - Christensen, Morten Bondo
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Authors.
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the provision of health care and expanded telehealth consultations. AIM: To study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact patterns in general practice, and to identify patient groups at risk of losing care. DESIGN AND SETTING: Register-based study of Danish general practice, including daytime and out-of-hours (OOH) services. METHOD: All individuals residing in Denmark from 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2020 were included. The incidence rate for six contact types in general practice and adjusted incidence rate ratio were calculated by comparing the incidence rate in the pandemic period with the adjusted expected incidence rate based on the incidence rate in the pre-pandemic period. RESULTS: The number of face-to-face in-clinic consultations declined during the lockdown in March 2020. A subsequent increase in the number of clinic consultations was observed, rising to a level above that of the pre-pandemic period; this increase resulted mainly from the introduction of telehealth consultations (that is, video and extended telephone). The number of daytime email consultations increased, whereas the number of daytime home visits decreased. Likewise, the number of OOH telephone consultations increased, whereas the number of OOH home visits and clinic consultations decreased. Consultation rates of patients who are vulnerable, that is, those with low education, old age, and comorbidity, were most adversely affected by the pandemic. The most adverse impact in OOH clinic consultations was seen for children aged 0-9 years. CONCLUSION: New methods are called for to ensure access to general practice for patients who are vulnerable during a pandemic. The potential of telehealth consultations should be further investigated.
AB - BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the provision of health care and expanded telehealth consultations. AIM: To study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact patterns in general practice, and to identify patient groups at risk of losing care. DESIGN AND SETTING: Register-based study of Danish general practice, including daytime and out-of-hours (OOH) services. METHOD: All individuals residing in Denmark from 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2020 were included. The incidence rate for six contact types in general practice and adjusted incidence rate ratio were calculated by comparing the incidence rate in the pandemic period with the adjusted expected incidence rate based on the incidence rate in the pre-pandemic period. RESULTS: The number of face-to-face in-clinic consultations declined during the lockdown in March 2020. A subsequent increase in the number of clinic consultations was observed, rising to a level above that of the pre-pandemic period; this increase resulted mainly from the introduction of telehealth consultations (that is, video and extended telephone). The number of daytime email consultations increased, whereas the number of daytime home visits decreased. Likewise, the number of OOH telephone consultations increased, whereas the number of OOH home visits and clinic consultations decreased. Consultation rates of patients who are vulnerable, that is, those with low education, old age, and comorbidity, were most adversely affected by the pandemic. The most adverse impact in OOH clinic consultations was seen for children aged 0-9 years. CONCLUSION: New methods are called for to ensure access to general practice for patients who are vulnerable during a pandemic. The potential of telehealth consultations should be further investigated.
KW - COVID-19
KW - general practice
KW - health equity
KW - primary health care
KW - telemedicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140932522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3399/BJGP.2021.0703
DO - 10.3399/BJGP.2021.0703
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36253113
AN - SCOPUS:85140932522
VL - 72
SP - e799-e808
JO - British Journal of General Practice
JF - British Journal of General Practice
SN - 0960-1643
IS - 724
ER -