De la consulta presencial a la teleconsulta: experiencias de profesionales de atención primaria del País Vasco durante la pandemia

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ObjectiveTo explore the perceptions of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals on changes in consultation modalities and their impact on PHC fundamentals during the pandemic. DesignQualitative exploratory research conducted between October and November, 2021. LocationFour urban and one rural primary health care centers with different socioeconomic profiles in the threeterritories of the Basque Country. ParticipantsForty-six professionals from different categories of the PHC team and health centre directors. MethodPurposive sampling. Five focus groups and fourin-depth interviews. Thematic analysis with the support of the Atlas.ti programme. Triangulation of results among the research team. ResultsExperiences with the development of teleconsultation appear to be directly conditioned by the pandemic context in its different phases and by the PC situation. The professionals identified communication barriers, as well as potentialities of its use that require adequate training and evaluation. Risks of inequity were perceived in the use of teleconsultations that could be affecting the quality of care. Longitudinality was assessed as a facilitating factor and problems of coordination and communication through teleconsultation between care levels were identified. ConclusionsThe replacement of face-to-face consultation by teleconsultation had an impact on fundamental aspects of PHC such as quality, accessibility, equity, coordination and longitudinality. Teleconsultation in PHC should always be evaluated considering the specific circumstances and contexts of its implementation.