Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the work of general practitioners (GPs). At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, German outpatient practices had to adapt quickly. Pandemic preparedness (PP) of GPs may play a vital role in their management of a pandemic. The study aimed to examine the association in the stock of seven personal protective equipment (PPE) items and knowledge of pandemic plans on perceived PP among GPs. Three multivariable linear regression models were developed based on an online cross-sectional survey for the period March-April 2020 (the onset of the pandemic in Germany). Data were collected using self-developed items on self-assessed PP and knowledge of a pandemic plan and its utility. The stock of seven PPE items was queried. For PPE items, three different PPE scores were compared. Control variables for all models were gender and age. In total, 508 GPs were included in the study; 65.16% believed that they were very poorly or poorly prepared. Furthermore, 13.83% of GPs were aware of a pandemic plan; 40% rated those plans as beneficial. The stock of FFP-2/3 masks, protective suits, face shields, safety glasses, and medical face masks were mostly considered completely insufficient or insufficient, whereas disposable gloves and disinfectants were considered sufficient or completely sufficient. The stock of PPE was significantly positively associated with PP and had the largest effect on PP; the association of the knowledge of a pandemic plan was significant but small. PPE scores did not vary considerably in their explanatory power. The assessment of a pandemic plan as beneficial did not significantly affect PP. The stock of PPE seems to be the determining factor for PP among German GPs; for COVID-19, sufficient masks are the determining factor. Knowledge of a pandemic plans play a secondary role in PP.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic took Germany and many other countries by surprise in 2020
13.83% of general practitioners (GPs) were aware of a pandemic plan; 40% rated those plans as beneficial
Pandemic plans were activated [4], and emergency measures were taken in hospitals and intensive care units to treat a large number of patients with COVID-19 [5]
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic took Germany and many other countries by surprise in 2020. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first to have contact with potential patients with COVID-19 [3,6] and the majority of patients with COVID-19 –mostly with mild and moderate symptoms [7,8]–are treated in GP practices. Apart from the additional workload of treating patients with COVID-19, GPs have to maintain regular primary health care [2,3,9,10]. General practitioners have been facing multiple challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a high risk of being infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) themselves [11], including the risk of mortality [12] and psychological impacts with regard to work and personal life [13]. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the work of general practitioners (GPs). Pandemic preparedness (PP) of GPs may play a vital role in their management of a pandemic
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