RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Teachings After COVID-19 Outbreak From a Survey of Family Physicians
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP S222
OP S224
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2021.S1.200267
VO 34
IS Supplement
A1 Marco Toselli
A1 Ignazio Palazzi
A1 Martina Lambertini
A1 Andrea Maurizzi
A1 Alberto Cereda
A1 Arif Khokhar
A1 Stefano Landi
A1 Fabrizio Toscano
A1 Giovanni Marasco
YR 2021
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/34/Supplement/S222.abstract
AB Background: Since December 2019, the dramatic escalation in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases worldwide has had a significant impact on health care systems. Family physicians (FPs) have played a critical role in the coordination of care.Materials and Methods: In April 2020, we performed an online prospective survey to assess the impact of the pandemic on FPs’ practices.Results: Three hundred FPs were included. Mean age was 53.6 ± 13.5 years. Before the pandemic, 60.2% reported >75 outpatient visits/week, which reduced down to an average of <20/week for 79.8% of FPs; 24.2% of FPs discontinued home visits, while for 94.7% of FPs there was a >50% increase in the number of telephone consultations. Concern related to the risk of contagion was elevated (≥3/5 in 74.6%) and even higher to the risk of infecting relatives and patients (≥3/5 in 93.3%). The majority of FPs (87%) supported the role of telemedicine in the near future. Satisfaction regarding the network with hospitals/COVID-19-dedicated wards received a score ≤2/5 in 46.9% of cases.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the working practices of FPs. A collaboration is needed with well-established networks between FPs and referral centers to provide new insights and opportunities to inform future working practices.