The diversity of opinion among general practitioners regarding the threat and measures against COVID-19 – Cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background

After the ‘first wave’ in spring 2020, opinions regarding the threat and measures against COVID-19 seemed to vary among German general practitioners (GPs).

Objectives

To systematically investigate opinions and to identify subgroups of GPs sharing similar views.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to all 210 practices accredited for undergraduate teaching of family medicine at the Medical Faculty of the Technical University of Munich. Questions addressed personal opinions regarding risks, dilemmas, restrictions and their relaxation associated with COVID-19, and personal fears, symptoms of depression and anxiety. Patterns of strong opinions (‘archetypes’) were identified using archetypal analysis, a statistical method seeking extremal points in the multidimensional data.

Results

One hundred and sixty-one GPs sent back a questionnaire (response rate 77%); 143 (68%) with complete data for all 38 relevant variables could be included in the analysis. We identified four archetypes with subgroups of GPs tending in the direction of these archetypes: a small group of ‘Sceptics’ (n = 12/8%) considering threats of COVID-19 as overrated and measures taken as exaggerated; ‘Hardliners’ (n = 34/24%) considering threats high and supporting strong measures; ‘Balancers’ (n = 77/54%) who also rated the threats high but were more critical about potentially impairing the quality of life of elderly people and children; and ‘Anxious’ GPs (n = 20/14%) tending to report more fear, depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

Among the participants in this survey, opinions regarding the threat and the measures taken against COVID-19 during the ‘first wave’ in Germany in spring 2020 varied greatly.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• infectious diseases
• attitudes
• general practice
• survey

Acknowledgement

The authors thank all participating GPs and Florian Vorderwülbecke, Tom Brandhuber, Bernhard Riedl, Peter Wapler, Michaela Olm, Isabella Canella, and Zekeriya Aktürk for commenting early versions of the questionnaire and/or of the manuscript. The study was performed for the MD (Dr. med.) thesis of CB at the Medical Faculty at the Technical University Munich.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest in relation to this article.