TY - JOUR T1 - Patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the primary care consultations for acute respiratory infections during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an eight-country qualitative study in Europe JF - BJGP Open JO - BJGP Open DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0172 SP - BJGPO.2021.0172 AU - Marta Wanat AU - Melanie Eugenie Hoste AU - Nina Helene Gobat AU - Marilena Anastasaki AU - Femke Böhmer AU - Slawomir Chlabicz AU - Annelies Colliers AU - Karen Farrell AU - Sophie Hollerbach AU - Maria-Nefeli Karkana AU - John Kinsman AU - Christos Lionis AU - Ludmila Marcinowicz AU - Katrin Reinhardt AU - Ingmarie Skoglund AU - Pär-Daniel Sundvall AU - Akke Vellinga AU - Herman Goossens AU - Christopher Butler AU - Alike van der Velden AU - Sibyl Anthierens AU - Sarah Tonkin-Crine Y1 - 2022/01/12 UR - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/01/12/BJGPO.2021.0172.abstract N2 - Background The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of healthcare-seeking behaviour and delivery of care is unclear. The pandemic accelerated the use of remote care and understanding its benefits and drawbacks may inform its implementation during this and future healthcare emergencies.Aim To explore patients’ and primary care professionals’ (PCPs) experiences of primary care delivery in the first wave of the pandemic.Design & setting Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews in primary care in eight European countriesResults We conducted 146 interviews with 80 PCPs and 66 patients consulting for respiratory tract infection (RTI) symptoms, in eight European countries (England, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Sweden and Germany). Data was collected between April and July 2020 and analysed using thematic analysis. We found that patients accepted telemedicine when PCPs spent time to understand and address their concerns, but a minority preferred in-person consultations. PCPs felt that remote consultations created emotional distance between themselves and patients, and they reported having to manage diverse COVID-19-related medical and social concerns.Conclusion Remote consultations for RTI symptoms may be acceptable long-term if both groups are happy to use this format but it is important that PCPs take time to address patients’ concerns and provide safety-netting advice. ER -