French General Practitioners' Adaptations for Patients with Suspected COVID-19 in May 2020

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid shifts in healthcare delivery.
• Management of COVID-19 patients transitioned from hospitals to primary care settings in France.
• General practitioners (GPs) played a crucial role in adapting care during the initial lockdown phase.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct patterns of adaptation in French GPs' practices for managing COVID-19 outpatients.
• To determine factors associated with these adaptation patterns.
• To inform healthcare system strategies for future health crises.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey of French GPs was conducted in May 2020.
• Data included care organization adaptations and individual, organizational, and territorial characteristics.
• Analysis involved multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering, followed by multinomial logistic regression.

Main Results:

• 3068 GPs (5.8% of French GPs) participated.
• Four clusters of adaptation were identified: autonomous medical reorganization (64.2%), interprofessional reorganization (15.9%), hospital utilization (5.1%), and COVID-19 outpatient center collaboration (14.8%).
• GP age, practice type/size, and location significantly influenced adaptation strategies.

Conclusions:

• Primary care demonstrated significant adaptability in managing COVID-19.
• Healthcare systems must consider primary care's organizational features to prepare for future health challenges.
• Adaptation strategies varied based on practitioner and practice characteristics, underscoring the need for tailored support.