Investigating changes in user and diagnostic patterns in general practice during the COVID pandemic in 2020: a cohort study using Danish patient data from two consecutive years before and during the pandemic
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.The COVID-19 pandemic increased general practice (GP) contacts, with more email use and less direct GP involvement. Diagnostic patterns shifted, with fewer consultations for skin, airway, and preventive care.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- General Practice
- Epidemiology
Background
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered healthcare access policies globally.
- General practice (GP) services experienced shifts in operational procedures and patient interactions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To compare and analyze changes in diagnostic patterns and GP procedures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the nature and delivery of general practice services.
Main Methods
- A register study was conducted using data from 11 Danish GP clinics.
- Patient data from one year prior to the pandemic (February 2019–January 2020) and one year during the pandemic (April 2020–March 2021) were analyzed.
- Key outcome measures included diagnostic patterns, consultation types (face-to-face, email, phone), and contact persons (GP or GP staff).
Main Results
- Average annual GP contacts per patient increased from 6.3 to 8.3.
- Face-to-face consultations remained stable at ~53%, while email contacts more than doubled to 26%.
- GP handling of patient contacts decreased from 36% to 22%, with GP staff handling up to 90% in some diagnostic groups. Contact numbers for cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes diagnoses remained stable, but consultations for skin diseases, respiratory symptoms, and preventive care decreased.
Conclusions
- The pandemic significantly altered diagnostic patterns, contact types, and patient handling within general practice.
- These changes represent a fundamental shift in the services offered by GPs.
- Future research is needed to assess the long-term impact on care quality and patient experience with altered patient handling dynamics.
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