Inanspruchnahme des Gesundheitssystems während der COVID-19-Pandemie. Welche Faktoren haben Patienten am Zugang zur Primärversorgung beeinflusst?

Background In addition to the immediate effects of COVID-19, the pandemic was causing collateral damage to healthcare: in primary care, patients and health care workers faced the challenges to minimize the risk of infection and maintain care. However, it remained unclear how primary care patients perceived these challenges to their health care. Aim The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences of primary care in Germany during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we wanted to identify which factors influenced patients in their use of primary care. Methods A qualitative, semi-structured interview study included a total of 17 patients who were asked about their behavior and expectations regarding primary care between February and June 2021. Study participants were recruited from primary care practices in Mittelhessen and Ostfriesland. Eligibility criteria were age of 18 years or older, having had contact with primary care physicians by telephone or in person on average once per month in 2019. Recruitment continued until data saturation was reached. The interviews were digitally recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The analysis was performed using a qualitative content analysis approach according to Kuckartz. Results A total of 3 main categories have been developed with the structuring content analysis, which were analyzed in more detail with three subcategories each. The main categories were "fear of infection," "doctor's office," and "own health." The data analysis showed that there were interactions between the categories and that overall a change in the use of GP visits was reported by only a few study participants. Conclusion This patient-centered study may provide ideas for future care by primary care physicians. Even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that fear of infection can be positively influenced, for example, by a professional information policy. The trust of patients in their primary care physicians was also an important factor for seamless health care during the pandemic. The opportunities offered by telemedicine were recognized in principle by the study participants, but at present they still seem to be met with a certain amount of skepticism. The importance of one's own health care was once again emphasized by the interview participants despite the pandemic in this study.