BMC Primary Care (Jun 2024)

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

  • Sara Ares-Blanco,
  • Marina Guisado-Clavero,
  • Charilaos Lygidakis,
  • María Fernández-García,
  • Davorina Petek,
  • Shlomo Vinker,
  • Donald Li,
  • Anna Stadval,
  • José Joaquín Mira Solves,
  • Lourdes Ramos Del Rio,
  • Ileana Gefaell Larrondo,
  • Louise Fitzgerald,
  • Limor Adler,
  • Radost Assenova,
  • Maria Bakola,
  • Sabine Bayen,
  • Elena Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya,
  • Iliana-Carmen Busneag,
  • Asja Ćosić Divjak,
  • Maryher Delphin Peña,
  • Philippe-Richard Domeyer,
  • Dragan Gjorgjievski,
  • Mila Gómez-Johansson,
  • Miroslav Hanževački,
  • Kathryn Hoffmann,
  • Oкcaнa Iлькoв,
  • Shushman Ivanna,
  • Marijana Jandrić-Kočić,
  • Vasilis Trifon Karathanos,
  • Aleksandar Kirkovski,
  • Snežana Knežević,
  • Büsra Çimen Korkmaz,
  • Milena Kostić,
  • Anna Krztoń-Królewiecka,
  • Bruno Heleno,
  • Katarzyna Nessler,
  • Heidrun Lingner,
  • Liubovė Murauskienė,
  • Ana Luisa Neves,
  • Naldy Parodi López,
  • Ábel Perjés,
  • Ferdinando Petrazzuoli,
  • Goranka Petricek,
  • Martin Sattler,
  • Natalija Saurek-Aleksandrovska,
  • Bohumil Seifert,
  • Alicia Serafini,
  • Theresa Sentker,
  • Paula Tiili,
  • Péter Torzsa,
  • Kirsi Valtonen,
  • Bert Vaes,
  • Gijs van Pottebergh,
  • Raquel Gómez-Bravo,
  • Maria Pilar Astier-Peña

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02413-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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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.

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