European Journal of General Practice最新文献

{"title":"Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study.","authors":"Tamara N Platteel, Johannes C Koelmans, Daniela Cianci, Natasha J H Broers, Eefje G P M de Bont, Jochen W L Cals, Roderick P Venekamp, Theo J M Verheij","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2501306","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2501306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Information about the incidence of persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and its impact on patients treated in primary care are scarce.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptomatology between adults with and without SARS-CoV-2 moderately severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in the 12 months following their primary care visit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Prospective cohort study in 35 Dutch practices. Individuals aged ≥18 years who presented to their general practitioner (GP) with a moderately severe LRTI during the first COVID-19 waive in The Netherlands (March-June 2020, <i>n</i> = 277; 268 (97%) with complete follow-up) were included between September and December 2020, then underwent serology testing (participants, GPs and study personnel remained blinded for serology outcomes during study conduct) and completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Main outcome measures: (1) SF-36 scores, and (2) risk of persisting symptoms during 12 months follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The change in SF-36 PSC (<i>p</i> = 0.13), MCS (<i>p</i> = 0.30) during 12 months follow-up did not differ between SARS-CoV-2 serology positive and negative participants after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary conditions. The risk of any persisting symptom during 12 months follow-up did not significantly differ between the groups (aHR 0.61, 95% CI 0.33-1.15), nor did the risk of individual symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In the 12 months following their moderately severe LRTI, primary care patients with and without confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection had a comparable HRQoL profile. A substantial proportion of participants reported persisting symptoms, indicating that persisting symptoms can occur following LRTIs irrespective of causative pathogen.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"31 1","pages":"2501306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144210242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generative artificial intelligence for general practice; new potential ahead, but are we ready?","authors":"Geert-Jan Geersing, Niek J de Wit, Matthew Thompson","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2511645","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2511645","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Generative AI (Gen AI) is frequently cited as an innovation to address the current challenges in healthcare, also for primary care. Examples include automating tasks like voice-to-notes transcription or chatbots using large language models. Additionally, it may facilitate a learning healthcare system by generating personalised learning resources and real-time literature summaries. Yet - probably with the highest expectations - Gen AI may extend diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in general practice by integrating complex, multimodal patient data for personalised care, enabling earlier disease detection, and providing real-time guidance for diagnostics, prognostics and treatments.</p><p><strong>Method & discussion: </strong>The authors of this opinion paper recently hosted a workshop at the WONCA Europe 2024 conference. From discussions at that workshop, three priorities emerge: practice support, education support, and clinical decision-making support. In this opinion paper, we argue that GPs and academic departments of primary care should lead in evaluating Gen AI across these three priorities. Primary care research must prioritise rigorous scientific evaluations, to ensure that developed tools actually work for GPs and their patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hereto, a coordinated effort, driven by the primary care academic community, is needed, starting with research agenda drafting. A broad, international follow-up is scheduled following this WONCA Europe 2024 workshop.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"31 1","pages":"2511645"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12147479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144250874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential overtreatment in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus: Results from a cross-sectional study in German general practice.","authors":"Solveig Weise, Christiane Oelschläger, Susanne Unverzagt, Jens Abendroth, Marcus Heise, Thomas Frese","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2447723","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2447723","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is important for general practitioners (GPs) to protect elderly patients with diagnosis of diabetes type 2 (DM2) from overtreatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyse the metabolic control and treatment of elderly patients with DM2 in general practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study involved 46 general practices in a federal state of Germany. Inclusion criteria for patients were diagnosis of DM2, age of 70 years or above, no palliative care and at least one practice contact within the last six months. A study nurse randomly selected 10 eligible patients and extracted data on haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), diabetes treatment, secondary prevention and GP's characteristics. Risk of overtreatment was defined as having a HbA1c <47.5 mmol/mol (6.5%) and receiving glucose-lowering drugs, and overtreatment as being at risk of overtreatment and being aged 80 years or above or living in a nursing home.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 460 participants, 36.0% received oral-antidiabetic drugs, 16.7% insulin, 16.2% both and 31.1% received diet/exercise. Overtreatment occurred in 12% of elderly patients with DM2, risk of overtreatment in 24%. Overtreatment was significantly associated with urban residency (OR 2.17). Female elderly patients with DM2 were significantly less often at risk of overtreatment (OR 0.59). Cluster effects were evident between general practices' treatment and monitoring of elderly patients with DM2 in quantitative data.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overtreatment is a relevant problem in elderly patients with DM2 for which GPs should regularly check and start deprescribing. Cluster effects suggest heterogeneity between general practices in diabetes management and monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"31 1","pages":"2447723"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11837937/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143442733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"General Practice-led urgent care practice vs. emergency room - satisfaction of ambulatory patients with low urgency medical problems.","authors":"Katharina Schmalstieg-Bahr, Bastian Bessert, Penelope-Sophie Peters, Johanna Sophie Bobardt, Ulrich Mayer-Runge, Martin Scherer, Jan Oltrogge-Abiry","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2520218","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2025.2520218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Emergency room (ER) utilisation by ambulatory patients with low urgency medical problems leads to ER-capacity use and long waiting times. Establishing General Practice (GP)-led urgent care practices (UCP) adjacent to ERs allows to triage patients from the ER to the UCP. However, patients may perceive themselves as ER-cases and expect ER-treatment including extensive diagnostics.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess UCP-patients' satisfaction compared to ambulatory ER-patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sub-analysis (11/2019-01/2020) of a prospective, monocentric observational study at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf ER and co-located UCP focusing on patient survey data including demographics, waiting time and diagnoses. Satisfaction, uncertainty and appropriateness of waiting time was assessed with 4-point Likert-scales.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysing 1196 UCP- and 597 ER-patients, patient satisfaction correlated positively with perceived appropriate waiting time in both groups. But more UCP-patients deemed their waiting time appropriate (76.7% vs. 70.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.004) and reported to be very satisfied with the treatment (64.7% vs. 55.8%; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Time until the first physician contact was nearly equal, but the entire length of stay was shorter in the UCP (104 ± 88.0 min vs. 179 ± 301 min; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In both groups, satisfaction was reduced by on-going uncertainty after the visit, but uncertainty was higher among UCP-patients (32% vs. 25%; <i>p</i> = 0.003). Age, gender or diagnosis had no influence on patients' satisfaction. More UCP-patients stated that today's problem could have been treated by a GP (57% vs. 15%; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and were advised to follow up in an outpatient setting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Treating patients in an UCP does not lead to overall dissatisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"31 1","pages":"2520218"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12207775/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144509374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The revised European Definition of General Practice/Family Medicine. A pivotal role of One Health, Planetary Health and Sustainable Development Goals.","authors":"A Windak, A Rochfort, J Jacquet","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2306936","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2306936","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2306936"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860453/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139708591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Task shifting to improve practice efficiency: A survey among general practitioners in non-urban Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.","authors":"Heiner Averbeck, Jasmin Raedler, Raenhha Dhami, Simon Schwill, Joachim E Fischer","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2413123","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2413123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Germany is challenged by an increasing shortage in general practice services, especially in non-urban areas. Task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to other health professionals may improve practice efficiency to address this mismatch.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Exploring GPs' motives and beliefs towards task shifting in non-urban Germany and identifying potential factors influencing these.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cross-sectional survey was disseminated by mail in three waves between July 2021 and August 2022 among all GPs in non-urban Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. It included items on demographics and practice characteristics as well as 15 Likert-scale items addressing motives and beliefs towards task shifting, based on the Theoretical Domain Framework. Likert-scale items were analysed descriptively, influencing factors on motives and beliefs were identified using multiple linear regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Response rate was 24.2% (281/1162), with respondents comparable in age and gender to all GPs in Baden-Wuerttemberg. GPs' motives and beliefs towards task shifting are positive overall. The majority expects task shifting to reduce their workload (87.9%) and increase practice efficiency (74.7%). They are open to shift additional tasks to other professionals (69.1%), even in the currently prohibited form of substitution (51.2%). Motives and beliefs were significantly more positive among younger GPs and those participating in the GP-centred care programme.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study describes GPs' motives and beliefs towards task shifting in non-urban Germany. Identifying younger GPs and those participating in the GP-centred care programme as particularly endorsing may help design future interventions aiming to improve efficiency in general practice in non-urban Germany.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2413123"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11520091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142523690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"'Male cystitis does not exist': A qualitative study of general practitioners' experiences and management of male urinary tract infections in France.","authors":"Benjamin Soudais, Alexandre Gallais, Matthieu Schuers","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2362693","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2362693","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Male urinary tract infections (mUTIs) are rare in primary care. The definition of mUTIs varies across countries. The therapeutic management of mUTIs in France is based on a 14-day course of fluoroquinolones despite a high risk of antimicrobial resistance.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this qualitative study was to explore general practitioners' (GPs) experiences and behaviours regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic management of mUTIs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>GPs were recruited by convenience sampling in Haute Normandie (France) and interviewed individually with semi-structured guides. GPs' experiences and behaviours were recorded and analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From March 2021 to May 2022, 20 GPs were included in the study. Defining a mUTI was perceived as a diagnostic challenge. A diagnosis based on clinical evidence alone was insufficient and complementary tests were required. For GPs: 'male cystitis does not exist'. A mUTI was considered an unusual disease that could reveal an underlying condition. GPs considered fluoroquinolones to be 'potent' antibiotics and treated all patients with the same 14-day course. GPs implemented improvement strategies for antibiotic stewardship and followed the guidelines using a computerised decision support system.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>GPs' experiences of mUTIs are limited due to low exposure and variable clinical presentations in primary care, representing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In order to modify GPs' antibiotic prescribing behaviours, a paradigm shift in the guidelines will need to be proposed.KEY MESSAGESDefining a male urinary tract infection represents a diagnostic challenge for GPs.A diagnosis based on clinical evidence alone is insufficient and complementary tests are required.A male urinary tract infection is an unusual disease in primary care and suggests a more serious underlying condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2362693"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11185083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141332492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Children and young people's consultation rates for psychosocial problems between 2016 and 2021 in the Netherlands.","authors":"Lukas B M Koet, Premysl Velek, Patrick J E Bindels, Arthur M Bohnen, Evelien I T de Schepper, Heike Gerger","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2357780","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2357780","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Worldwide, there are concerns about declining mental health of children and young people (CYP).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To examine trends in GP consultation rates for psychosocial problems and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a population-based cohort study using electronic GP records of CYP (0-24 years) living in the Rotterdam metropolitan area between 2016 and 2021. We calculated monthly consultation rates for psychosocial problems, stratified by age group and sex. We used negative binomial models to model the pre-COVID-19 trend, and estimate expected rates post-COVID-19 onset. We modelled the effect of COVID-19 infection rate and school closure on consultation rates per sex and age group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort increased from 64801 to 92093 CYP between January 2016 and December 2021. Median age was 12.5 years and 49.3% was female. Monthly consultation rates increased from 2,443 to 4,542 consultations per 100,000 patient months over the six years. This trend (RR 1.009, 95%CI 1.008-1.011) started well before the COVID-19 pandemic. Consultation rates of adolescent girls and young women increased most strongly. Between March and May 2020, there was a temporary reduction in consultation rates, whereupon these returned to expected levels. COVID-19 infection rate and school closures showed small but significant associations with consultation rates for psychosocial problems but this did not affect the overall trend. Although consultation rates for psychosocial problems increased, this increment was stable over the entire study period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly increase consultation rates for psychosocial problems in CYP. The consultation rates increased, especially in adolescent girls and young women.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2357780"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11151797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141238831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The development of a tool for GPs to manage overweight and obesity in children: A Delphi study.","authors":"Maxime Adriana Maria van der Velden, Madelon van Tilborg-den Boeft, Sylvia Buis, Wilma Jansen, Patrick Jan Eugène Bindels, Marienke van Middelkoop","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2413877","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2413877","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>General practitioners (GPs) could play an important role in the management of overweight and obesity in children. However, GPs experience different barriers and are in need of supportive tools. In order to support GPs to identify, address and refer these children, new tools should be developed.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To establish consensus among GPs about the content topics of a supportive tool to identify, address and refer children with overweight and obesity in general practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A two-round Delphi study was conducted with GPs identified as experts. A concept of a supportive tool was constructed based on focus-group interviews with GPs, practice nurses and parents of children with and without overweight and literature. The tool was categorised into five topics: identifying, initiating and continuing weight-related conversations, referring and evaluating a tool manual. GPs evaluated statements on the tool's topics in terms of importance. All statements were rated on a 5-point Likert scale and consensus was set at ≥70% of respondents agreeing with the statements.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GPs agreed that a supportive tool must contain a child's specialised BMI calculator; examples to initiate and to continue weight-related conversations with parents and children; a map with available interventions; and a manual including information and resources about health risks of overweight and obesity during childhood.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The content topics of a supportive tool for GPs to identify, discuss and refer children with overweight and obesity were determined through a consensus-driven process. Further validation and assessment are required through a feasibility and implementation study.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2413877"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11494705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diverse roles of Primary Health Care in COVID-19 vaccination across 28 European countries - Insights from the Eurodata study.","authors":"Marina Guisado-Clavero, Raquel Gómez-Bravo, Ileana Gefaell Larrondo, Lourdes Ramos Del Rio, Louise Fitzgerald, Shlomo Vinker, Bert Vaes, Georgi Tsigarovski, Péter Torzsa, Gunta Ticmane, Theresa Sentker, Alice Serafini, Martin Sattler, Sven Streit, Goranka Petricek, Ferdinando Petrazzuoli, Davorina Petek, Ábel Perjés, Nagu Penakacherla, Oliver Senn, Ana Luisa Neves, Katarzyna Nessler, Liubovė Murauskienė, Jöel Mossong, Liga Kozlovska, Anna Segernäs, Anna Krztoń-Królewiecka, Milena Kostić, Erva Kırkoç Üçüncü, Büsra Çimen Korkmaz, Snežana Knežević, Marijana Jandrić-Kočić, Lisa Kastbom, Ivanna Shushman, Oxana Ilkov, Kathryn Hoffmann, Bruno Heleno, Miroslav Hanževački, Dragan Gjorgjievski, Sabine Feldman, Philippe-Richard Domeyer, Maryher Delphin Peña, Asja Ćosić Divjak, Iliana-Carmen Busneag, Elena Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya, Sherihane Bensemmane, Sabine Bayen, Maria Bakola, Limor Adler, Radost Assenova, Sara Ares-Blanco, María Pilar Astier-Peña, Heidrun Lingner","doi":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2409240","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13814788.2024.2409240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 vaccination campaign in several European countries involved collaboration between public health and Primary Health Care (PHC).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To highlight the role of PHC professionals in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, specifically in terms of vaccine administration, communication and contributing to vaccination population coverage.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive retrospective study of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign across 28 European countries was conducted, covering data from December 2020 to November 2021. Data were collected by key informants recruited from each country, who were health professionals involved in their national vaccination campaigns. Utilising an ad-hoc semi-structured questionnaire, information was gathered on organisation, communication strategies, priority groups, vaccine types, and vaccination pathways in PHC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PHC participated in communication strategies in 10 out of 28 countries, and vaccination was voluntary in most of them. The priority groups for vaccination varied across Europe, and the availability of vaccines in PHC differed between countries within the European Union (EU) and non-EU countries. The BioNTech Pfizer vaccine was the most widely available vaccine in most countries, followed by Moderna and AstraZeneca. PHC administered COVID-19 vaccines to the population, being the nurses the most involved, followed by general practitioners. Vaccination appointments were available online in 18/28 or by phone in 15/28, direct appointments at health centres were available in 8/28. In several countries, healthcare professionals who administered vaccines were given extra compensation for their role.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PHC professionals played a crucial role in the successful distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines in European countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":54380,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of General Practice","volume":"30 1","pages":"2409240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11497572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142480998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}