Follow-up of patients with chronic conditions within primary care practices during COVID-19: Results from 7 Central and Eastern-European countries from the cross-sectional PRICOV-19 study.

Publication date: Dec 01, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic posed severe challenges to delivery of services at Primary Care level and for achieving follow-up of patients with chronic diseases. We analysed data from the PRICOV-19 study to explore determinants of active follow-up for chronic disease patients in seven Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries during the pandemic. Pricov-19 was a cross-sectional study conducted within PC (Primary Care) practices in 37 European countries. We analysed data from 7 CEE countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine) collected between November 2020 and December 2021. Practices were recruited through random or convenience sampling and participation of practices was voluntary. We performed descriptive statistics to identify the level of follow-up of chronic disease and what health system and practice-specific factors were associated with better follow-up. We used logistic regression and meta-analysis techniques to explore associations and heterogeneity between countries. 67. 8% out of 978 practices reported actively following up chronic patients. Positive associations were found between active follow-up and such as having more GPs (aOR = 1. 18, p-value = 0. 005), an above-average chronic patient population (aOR = 3. 13, p-value = 0. 006), adequate government support (aOR = 2. 35, p-value = 0. 001), and GPs having time for guideline reading (aOR = 0. 008, p-value = 1. 71). Patient follow-up, was influenced by different health system and practice-specific factors. The implications suggest the need for government support to enhance PC practice organisation during crises and solutions to decrease GP workload and provide tailored care for patients with chronic disease.

Concepts Keywords
Diseases Chronic Disease
Gps COVID-19
Hungary COVID-19
Moldova Cross-Sectional Studies
November Europe
Europe, Eastern
Humans
multi-country
outreach
Patient follow-up
Primary Health Care
quality of care

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH chronic conditions
disease MESH COVID-19
drug DRUGBANK Tropicamide
disease VO population
disease VO time
disease IDO country
disease IDO quality

Original Article

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