The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary health care practices and patient management in the Republic of Moldova - results from the PRICOV-19 survey
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DELVENTO, Giulia, CURTEANU, Ala, ROTARU, Cristina, VAN POEL, Esther, WILLEMS, Sara J.T., PRYTHERCH, Helen, KUROCHKIN, G. S.. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary health care practices and patient management in the Republic of Moldova - results from the PRICOV-19 survey. In: BMC Primary Care, 2023, vol. 24, pp. 1-14. ISSN 2731-4553. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02116-3
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BMC Primary Care
Volumul 24 / 2023 / ISSN 2731-4553

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary health care practices and patient management in the Republic of Moldova - results from the PRICOV-19 survey

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02116-3

Pag. 1-14

Delvento Giulia1, Curteanu Ala234, Rotaru Cristina253, Van Poel Esther6, Willems Sara J.T.6, Prytherch Helen17, Kurochkin G. S.5
 
1 Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH),
2 Healthy Life project,
3 Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation,
4 Institute of Mother and Child,
5 ”Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
6 Ghent University,
7 University of Basel
 
 
Disponibil în IBN: 5 noiembrie 2023


Rezumat

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on health systems in Europe and has generated unprecedented challenges for tertiary care. Less is known about the effects on the activities of local family doctors (FDs), who have shifted tasks and adapted their practice to accommodate the new services brought by the pandemic. The PRICOV-19 study was a multi-country survey aiming to understand the challenges posed by the pandemic in primary health care (PHC) practices around Europe. Within the framework of this study, we assessed the impact of the pandemic on PHC facilities in urban, rural, and mixed urban/rural areas in the Republic of Moldova. Methods: We present the results from the PRICOV-19 questionnaire designed at Ghent University (Belgium) and distributed between January and March 2021 to PHC facilities from the 35 districts of the Republic of Moldova. This analysis presents descriptive data on limitations to service delivery, staff role changes, implementation and acceptance of COVID-19 guidelines, and incidents reported on staff and patient safety during the pandemic. Results: Results highlighted the differences between facilities located in urban, rural, and mixed areas in several dimensions of PHC. Nearly half of the surveyed facilities experienced limitations in the building or infrastructure when delivering services during the pandemic. 95% of respondents reported an increase in time spent giving information to patients by phone, and 88% reported an increase in responsibilities. Few practices reported errors in clinical assessments, though a slightly higher number of incidents were reported in urban areas. Half of the respondents reported difficulties delivering routine care to patients with chronic conditions and a delay in treatment-seeking. Conclusions: During the pandemic, the workload of PHC staff saw a significant increase, and practices met important structural and organizational limitations. Consequently, these limitations may have also affected care delivery for vulnerable patients with chronic conditions. Adjustments and bottlenecks need to be addressed, considering the different needs of PHC facilities in urban, rural, and mixed areas. 

Cuvinte-cheie
COVID-19, family doctor, General practitioner, Health systems, infectious disease, PRICOV-19, primary health care, Quality of care, Republic of Moldova