Dataset Information

How primary healthcare in Iceland swiftly changed its strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe how the primary healthcare (PHC) in Iceland changed its strategy to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Descriptive observational study.

Setting

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.

Population

The Reykjavik area has a total of 233 000 inhabitants.

Main outcome measures

The number and the mode of consultations carried out. Drug prescriptions and changes in the 10 most common diagnoses made in PHC. Laboratory tests including COVID-19 tests. Average numbers in March and April 2020 compared with the same months in 2018 and 2019.

Results

Pragmatic strategies and new tasks were rapidly applied to the clinical work to meet the foreseen healthcare needs caused by the pandemic. The number of daytime consultations increased by 35% or from 780 to 1051/1000 inhabitants (p<0.001) during the study period. Telephone and web-based consultations increased by 127% (p<0.001). The same tendency was observed in out-of-hours services. The number of consultations in maternity and well-child care decreased only by 4% (p=0.003). Changes were seen in the 10 most common diagnoses. Most noteworthy, apart from a high number of COVID-19 suspected disease, was that immunisation, depression, hypothyroidism and lumbago were not among the top 10 diagnoses during the epidemic period. The number of drug prescriptions increased by 10.3% (from 494 to 545 per 1000 inhabitants, p<0.001). The number of prescriptions from telephone and web-based consultations rose by 55.6%. No changes were observed in antibiotics prescriptions.

Conclusions

As the first point of contact in the COVID-19 pandemic, the PHC in Iceland managed to change its strategy swiftly while preserving traditional maternity and well-child care, indicating a very solid PHC with substantial flexibility in its organisation.

SUBMITTER: Sigurdsson EL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7722808 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

How primary healthcare in Iceland swiftly changed its strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sigurdsson Emil Larus EL Blondal Anna Bryndis AB Jonsson Jon Steinar JS Tomasdottir Margret Olafia MO Hrafnkelsson Hannes H Linnet Kristjan K Sigurdsson Johann Agust JA

BMJ open 20201207 12

<h4>Objective</h4>To describe how the primary healthcare (PHC) in Iceland changed its strategy to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Design</h4>Descriptive observational study.<h4>Setting</h4>Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.<h4>Population</h4>The Reykjavik area has a total of 233 000 inhabitants.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>The number and the mode of consultations carried out. Drug prescriptions and changes in the 10 most common diagnoses made in PHC. Laboratory tests including COVID-19 tests. ...[more]

PMID: 33293329

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundPrimary healthcare (PHC) providers are widely acknowledged for putting the most efficient and long-lasting efforts for addressing community health issues and promoting health equity. This study aimed to explore PHC providers' experiences with coronavirus pandemic preparedness and response in Armenia.MethodsWe applied a qualitative study design using semi-structured in-depth interviews and structured observation checklists. Study participants were recruited using theoretical and convenience sampling techniques throughout Armenia. Inductive conventional content analysis was utilized to analyze the in-depth interviews. Nineteen in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 participants. Observations took place in 35 PHC facilities. The data collected during the observations was analyzed using the "SPSS22.0.0.0" software.ResultsFive main themes of primary healthcare providers' experiences were drawn out based on the study findings: 1) the gap in providers' risk communication skills; 2) uneven supply distributions; 3) difficulties in specimen collection and testing processes; 4) providers challenged by home visits; 5) poor patient-provider relationships. The results revealed that primary care providers were affected by uneven supply distribution throughout the country. The lack of proper laboratory settings and issues with specimen collection were challenges shaping the providers' experiences during the pandemic. The study highlighted the health systems' unpreparedness to engage providers in home visits for COVID-19 patients. The findings suggested that it was more challenging for healthcare providers to gain the trust of their patients during the pandemic. The study results also underlined the need for trainings to help primary care providers enhance their risk communication expertise or assign other responsible bodies to carry out risk communication on PHC providers' behalf.ConclusionThe study discovered that PHC providers have a very important role in healthcare system's preparedness and response to handle public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings the study team recommends prioritizing rural PHC development, ensuring appropriate supply distributions, developing comprehensive protocols on safe home visits and specimen collection and testing processes, and trainings PHC providers on risk communication, patient-centeredness, as well as proper use of personal protective equipment.

Dataset Information

How primary healthcare in Iceland swiftly changed its strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

Design

Setting

Population

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

How primary healthcare in Iceland swiftly changed its strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets