The role of the district medical officer after the pandemic - a qualitative study.

Abstract

While district medical officers' role was described as unclear and lacking visibility before the COVID-19 pandemic, their community medicine expertise became highly significant in the management of the pandemic. We wished to investigate district medical officers' perceptions of their role after the pandemic was over. The study was designed as a theory-driven qualitative interview study. Twelve district medical officers in the Norwegian county of Innlandet were interviewed in the autumn of 2022. The data were subjected to thematic analysis. The study identified a number of factors associated with the capabilities, motivation, and structural and organisational framework of district medical officers that were assumed to impact on the execution of their role and participation in decision-making processes in the local authorities. The district medical officers found that their role had become clearer and more visible during the pandemic, but they had low expectations of being more involved and having a stronger voice in the development of future health services in the municipalities. One proposed measure is to devise a guide for the district medical officer function, such that the local authorities are given clear guidelines on the district medical officers' areas of responsibility and the issues in which they should be involved. The district medical officers felt that 'the pandemic effect is over', and that they had to fight their way back into important decision-making arenas. Measures at individual and organisational level can help ensure the optimal use of district medical officers' community medicine expertise in the municipalities.