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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Care | Research

The roles of primary care doctors in the COVID-19 pandemic: consistency and influencing factors of doctor's perception and actions and nominal definitions

Authors: Chenbin Yang, Jiana Yin, Jiongjiong Liu, Jinying Liu, Qin Chen, Hui Yang, Yunchao Ni, Bingcan Li, Yanmei Li, Jin Lin, Ziwei Zhou, Zhangping Li

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

At the end of 2019, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic broke out. As front-line health professionals, primary care doctors play a significant role in screening SARS-CoV-2 infection and transferring suspected cases. However, the performance of primary care doctors is influenced by their knowledge and role perception. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the consistency and influencing factors of primary care doctor's role perception and expert advice in the guidelines (regulatory definition).

Methods

We designed the questionnaire using “Wenjuanxing” platform, distributed and collected the questionnaire through WeChat social platform, and surveyed 1758 primary care doctors from 11 community health service stations, community health service centers and primary hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China. After the questionnaire was collected, descriptive statistics were made on the characteristics of participants, and univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to determine the relevant factors affecting their role cognition.

Results

In the reporting and referral suspected cases and patients receiving treatment, most participants’ cognition of their roles were consistent with the requirements of guidelines. However, 49.54% and 61.43% of participant doctors were not in line with the government guidelines for diagnosing and classifying COVID-19 and treating suspected cases, respectively. Having a middle or senior professional title and participating in front-line COVID-19 prevention and control work is beneficial to the accurate role perception of diagnosis and classification of COVID-19, the reporting and transfer of suspected cases, and the treatment of suspected cases.

Conclusions

Primary care doctors’ role perceptions in the COVID-19 pandemic are not always consistent with government guidelines in some aspects, such as transferring and diagnosing suspected cases. Therefore, it is essential to guide primary care doctors in performing their duties, especially those with lower professional titles.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The roles of primary care doctors in the COVID-19 pandemic: consistency and influencing factors of doctor's perception and actions and nominal definitions
Authors
Chenbin Yang
Jiana Yin
Jiongjiong Liu
Jinying Liu
Qin Chen
Hui Yang
Yunchao Ni
Bingcan Li
Yanmei Li
Jin Lin
Ziwei Zhou
Zhangping Li
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Care
COVID-19
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08487-0

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