Dataset Information

The Management of HIV Care Services in Central and Eastern Europe: Data from the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging time for medical care, especially in the field of infectious diseases (ID), but it has also provided an opportunity to introduce new solutions in HIV management. Here, we investigated the changes in HIV service provision across Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

The Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group consists of experts in the field of ID from 24 countries within the CEE region. Between 11 September and 29 September 2021, the group produced an on-line survey, consisting of 32 questions on models of care among HIV clinics before and after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Results

Twenty-three HIV centers from 19 countries (79.2% of all countries invited) participated in the survey. In 69.5% of the countries, there were more than four HIV centers, in three countries there were four centers (21%), and in four countries there was only one HIV center in each country. HIV care was based in ID hospitals plus out-patient clinics (52%), was centralized in big cities (52%), and was publicly financed (96%). Integrated services were available in 21 clinics (91%) with access to specialists other than ID, including psychologists in 71.5% of the centers, psychiatrists in 43%, gynecologists in 47.5%, dermatologists in 52.5%, and social workers in 62% of all clinics. Patient-centered care was provided in 17 centers (74%), allowing consultations and tests to be planned for the same day. Telehealth tools were used in 11 centers (47%) before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, and in 18 (78%) after (p = 0.36), but were represented mostly by consultations over the telephone or via e-mail. After the COVID-19 outbreak, telehealth was introduced as a new medical tool in nine centers (39%). In five centers (28%), no new services or tools were introduced.

Conclusions

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, tools such as telehealth have become popularized in CEE countries, challenging the traditional approach to HIV care. These implications need to be further evaluated in order to ascertain the best adaptations, especially for HIV medicine.

SUBMITTER: Skrzat-Klapaczynska A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9265352 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The Management of HIV Care Services in Central and Eastern Europe: Data from the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group.

Skrzat-Klapaczyńska Agata A Kowalska Justyna D JD Afonina Larisa L Antonyak Svitlana S Balayan Tatevik T Begovac Josip J Bursa Dominik D Dragovic Gordana G Gokengin Deniz D Harxhi Arjan A Jilich David D Kase Kerstin K Lakatos Botond B Mardarescu Mariana M Matulionyte Raimonda R Oprea Cristiana C Panteleev Aleksandr A Papadopoulos Antonios A Sojak Lubomir L Tomazic Janez J Vassilenko Anna A Vasylyev Marta M Verhaz Antonija A Yancheva Nina N Yurin Oleg O Horban Andrzej A

International journal of environmental research and public health 20220621 13

<h4>Introduction</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging time for medical care, especially in the field of infectious diseases (ID), but it has also provided an opportunity to introduce new solutions in HIV management. Here, we investigated the changes in HIV service provision across Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.<h4>Methods</h4>The Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group consists of experts in the field of ID from 2 ...[more]

PMID: 35805250

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Dataset Information

The Management of HIV Care Services in Central and Eastern Europe: Data from the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The Management of HIV Care Services in Central and Eastern Europe: Data from the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group.

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