Exploring the accessibility of primary health care data in Europe's COVID-19 response: developing key indicators for managing future pandemics (Eurodata study)

Abstract

Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a crucial role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 8% of cases requiring hospitalization. However, PHC COVID-19 data often goes unnoticed on European government dashboards and in media discussions. This project aims to examine official information on PHC patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, with specific objectives: (1) Describe PHC’s clinical pathways for acute COVID-19 cases, including long-term care facilities, (2) Describe PHC COVID-19 pandemic indicators, (3) Develop COVID-19 PHC activity indicators, (4) Explain PHC’s role in vaccination strategies, and (5) Create a PHC contingency plan for future pandemics. Methods: A mixed-method study will employ two online questionnaires to gather retrospective PHC data on COVID-19 management and PHC involvement in vaccination strategies. Validation will occur through focus group discussions with medical and public health (PH) experts. A two-wave Delphi survey will establish a European PHC indicators dashboard for future pandemics. Additionally, a coordinated health system action plan involving PHC, secondary care, and PH will be devised to address future pandemic scenarios. Analysis: Quantitative data will be analysed using STATA v16.0 for descriptive and multivariate analyses. Qualitative data will be collected through peer-reviewed questionnaires and content analysis of focus group discussions. A Delphi survey and multiple focus groups will be employed to achieve consensus on PHC indicators and a common European health system response plan for future pandemics. The Eurodata research group involving researchers from 28 European countries support the development. Discussion: While PHC manages most COVID-19 acute cases, data remains limited in many European countries. This study collects data from numerous countries, offering a comprehensive perspective on PHC’s role during the pandemic in Europe. It pioneers the development of a PHC dashboard and health system plan for pandemics in Europe. These results may prove invaluable in future pandemics. However, data may have biases due to key informants’ involvement and may not fully represent all European GP practices. PHC has a significant role in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, as most of the cases are mild or moderate and only 8% needed hospitalization. However, PHC COVID-19 activity data is invisible on governments’ daily dashboards in Europe, often overlooked in media and public debates. © The Author(s) 2024.

• author: Ares-Blanco, S. ; Petrazzuoli, F. and Astier-Peña, M.P.
• author collaboration: et al.
• organization: Family Medicine and Community Medicine (research group)
• publishing date: 2024
• type: Contribution to journal
• publication status: published
• subject: Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy
• keywords: COVID-19, Epidemiological monitoring, Europe, Health information systems, Health system plan, Primary health care, Delphi Technique, Humans, Pandemics, Primary Health Care, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Surveys and Questionnaires, coronavirus disease 2019, Delphi study, epidemiology, human, pandemic, prevention and control, primary health care, questionnaire, retrospective study, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• in: BMC Primary Care
• volume: 25
• issue: 1
• article number: 221
• publisher: BioMed Central (BMC)
• external identifiers: scopus:85196660173; pmid:38902681
• ISSN: 2731-4553
• DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02413-5
• language: English
• LU publication?: yes
• additional info: Number of authors = 55 EID = 85196660173 Article no = 221 Affiliation = Ares-Blanco S., Federica Montseny Health Centre, Gerencia Asistencial de Atención Primaria, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain, SemFYC representative in EGPRN (European General Practitioner Research Network), Madrid, Spain Affiliation = Gómez-Bravo R., CHNP, Rehaklinik, Ettelbruck, Luxembourg, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, Research Group Self-Regulation and Health, Institute for Health and Behaviour, Faculty of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, Luxembourg University, WONCA SIGFV Executive, SSLMG Executive, Luxembourg, Luxembourg Affiliation = Astier-Peña M.P., Universitas Health Centre, Public Health Service of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain, Chair of Patient Safety Working Group of Semfyc (Spanish Society for Family and Community Medicine) and and SECA (Spanish Society for Healthcare Quality) Board Member, Madrid, Spain
• id: a2ea0646-f696-4661-9a61-151a2c5f09f1
• date added to LUP: 2024-08-29 14:22:14
• date last changed: 2025-04-04 14:11:35