German general practitioners’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected their patient care: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background

General practitioners (GPs) play a significant role in providing medical care to patients affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about the impact of the pandemic on patient care from the perspective of GPs.

Objectives

To gain insight into GPs’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on patient care in Germany.

Methods

From August to December 2020, qualitative, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 GPs from four randomly selected federal states in Germany. We analysed the data according to Kuckartz’s method of content analysis.

Results

Five themes emerged: changes in healthcare system, practice routines, patient care, personal life, and improving health crisis preparedness. Communication with authorities and following rapidly changing guidelines were the biggest challenges during the pandemic. Teamwork and collegial exchange in the practice were seen as important sources of support to overcome these barriers. Participants stated that they managed to secure care but expressed concerns about how social distancing might affect the doctor-patient relationship. In their professional and private lives, GPs perceived themselves as role models with a high responsibility for the health of others. Consistent guidance by health authorities and reliable information were raised as necessary for managing patient care in the pandemic.

Conclusion

Findings show that patient care was successful but GPs’ adaptation to unprecedented conditions was limited by poor communication and collaboration with health authorities. Therefore, providing adequate support services by policymakers is essential to strengthen primary care in future health crises.

Keywords:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• qualitative study
• general practice
• doctor-patient-relationship
• team cohesion

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Til Uebel for his involvement in developing our interview guide and David Gierszewski and Peter Kurotschka for their contributions to the analysis process. Special thanks to all the physicians who participated in the qualitative study and shared their experiences with us. We would also like to thank all the physicians who participated in the cross-sectional survey.

Ethical approval

Ethics approval from the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Wuerzburg (reference number 135/20-am).

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.