Trends in COVID-Related Activity in Sentinel Family Medicine Practices: An Observational Study.

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License: CC BY 4.0
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_1FCB8B48392D
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Trends in COVID-Related Activity in Sentinel Family Medicine Practices: An Observational Study.
Journal
International journal of public health
Author(s)
Maeder M., Auderset D., Borel B., Masserey E., Schwarz J., Mueller Y.
ISSN
1661-8564 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1661-8556
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
67
Pages
1605361
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Observational Study ; Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Objectives: During the COVID pandemic, data collected in family medicine were scarce. The COVID-FM project aimed to monitor trends of COVID-related activity in family medicine practices of the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, during the year 2021. Methods: Practitioners were invited to join an ad hoc sentinel surveillance system. Online data collection was based on daily activity reports and monthly questionnaires. Participants categorized daily counts of consultations and phone calls into predefined categories. Data were reported and discussed on a weekly basis with public health authorities. Results: On the target of 50 physicians, 37 general physicians from 32 practices finally constituted the COVID-FM sentinel network, contributing to 901 practice-weeks of surveillance in family medicine and 604 in paediatrics. In paediatrics, COVID-related activity corresponded mostly to COVID-19 diagnostic consultations (2911/25990 face-to-face consultations = 11.2%) while in family medicine, other COVID-related topics-such as questions on vaccination-predominated (4143/42221 = 9.8%). Conclusion: COVID-related consultations constituted an important part of primary care practices' activity in 2021. Monitoring COVID-related activity in primary care provided health authorities with valuable information to guide public health action.
Keywords
Humans, Child, COVID-19/epidemiology, Family Practice, General Practitioners, Sentinel Surveillance, Public Health, COVID-19, family medicine, monitoring, primary care, public health, sentinel, surveillance
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
13/02/2023 12:25
Last modification date
31/05/2023 7:08
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