Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
15:00
Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies
Published on: February 3, 2023
Home Visits as a Primary Health Care Strategy During COVID-19: Protocol for a Scoping Review
Woska Pires da Costa1,2, Heloísa de Carvalho Torres3,4, Ana Paula Santana Coelho Almeida3,4
1Research Department, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Morrinhos, BR-153 Highway, Km 633, P.O. Box 92, Rural Area, Morrinhos, GO, 75658-899, Brazil, 55 64992227424.
JMIR Research Protocols
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Primary health care adapted during COVID-19 using home visits for essential services. This scoping review maps how these home visits were organized and identifies lessons for future public health emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Primary Health Care
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Primary health care was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to maintain essential services and minimize transmission risks.
- Home visits were a key strategy for monitoring isolated individuals, supporting vulnerable populations, and sustaining community-based care.
- However, the organization and operationalization of home visits varied significantly, leading to fragmented evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically map the organization and operationalization of in-person or hybrid home visits in primary, community-based, or first-contact care during the COVID-19 response.
- To identify operational approaches, reported outcomes, and knowledge gaps related to home visits during the pandemic.
- To provide a structured evidence map for future public health emergency preparedness.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review protocol following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Systematic searches of seven electronic databases (2020 onwards) without language restrictions.
- Independent eligibility assessment by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third; descriptive mapping and qualitative content analysis of included sources.
Main Results:
- Pilot searches were conducted to refine the search strategy; formal review processes are pending protocol acceptance.
- The review is expected to be completed within approximately six months.
- No formal results are available yet as the review process has not commenced.
Conclusions:
- The planned review will offer a comprehensive evidence map of home-visit practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It aims to identify transferable operational lessons and critical evidence gaps for future public health emergencies.
- The findings will not provide evidence of comparative effectiveness or causal effects of different home-visit strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:11Secondary Healthcare System
Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities