ArticleBJGP open2021
Maintaining face-to-face contact during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative investigation in UK primary care.
Article in BJGP open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed.
- Implementing Germ Defence digital behaviour change intervention via all primary care practices in England to reduce respiratory infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: an efficient cluster randomised controlled trial using the OpenSAFELY platform.Implementation science : IS · 2023Trial
- The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on primary care contact among vulnerable populations in England: a controlled interrupted time-series study.BJGP open · 2025Article
- Uptake of video telehealth in general practice: an Australian whole-of-population analysis.BJGP open · 2025Article
- Use of Remote Consultations by Chiropractors in the United Kingdom During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2025Article
- Quality of care in Belgian general practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of the cross-sectional PRICOV-19 study.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- General practice as a place to receive help for domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in England and Wales.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2023Article
- Consultation Rate and Mode by Deprivation in English General Practice From 2018 to 2022: Population-Based Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Article
- Changes in general practice use and costs with COVID-19 and telehealth initiatives: analysis of Australian whole-population linked data.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2023Article
- General practice wide adaptations to support patients affected by DVA during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid qualitative study.BMC primary care · 2023Article
- Changes in consultation mode during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatian family medicine: a cross-sectional study.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for severe endometriosis in the UK: a national database study.Facts, views & vision in ObGyn · 2022Article
- The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care physicians in Israel, with comparison to an international cohort: a cross-sectional study.Israel journal of health policy research · 2022Article
- Primary care practice and cancer suspicion during the first three COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022Article
- Telemedicine and virtual respiratory care in the era of COVID-19.ERJ open research · 2022Review
- Remote care in UK general practice: baseline data on 11 case studies.NIHR open research · 2022Article
- Conducting rapid qualitative interview research during the COVID-19 pandemic-Reflections on methodological choices.Frontiers in sociology · 2022Article
- The experience of conducting collaborative and intensive pragmatic qualitative (CLIP-Q) research to support rapid public health and healthcare innovation.Frontiers in sociology · 2022Article
- Protocol: Remote care as the 'new normal'? Multi-site case study in UK general practice.NIHR open research · 2022Article
- Public perception of NHS general practice during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in England.F1000Research · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid reconfiguration of UK general practice to minimise face-to-face contact with patients to reduce infection risk. However, some face-to-face contact remained necessary and practices needed to ensure such contact could continue safely.
aimTo examine how practices determined when face-to-face contact was necessary and how face-to-face consultations were reconfigured to reduce COVID-19 infection risk. DESIGN &
settingQualitative interview study in general practices in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
methodLongitudinal semi-structured interviews with clinical and managerial practice staff were undertaken at four timepoints between May and July 2020.
resultsPractices worked flexibly within general national guidance to determine when face-to-face contact with patients was necessary, influenced by knowledge of the patient, experience, and practice resilience. For example, practices prioritised patients according to clinical need using face-to-face contact to resolve clinician uncertainty or provide adequate reassurance to patients. To make face-to-face contact as safe as possible and keep patients separated, practices introduced a heterogeneous range of measures that exploited features of their indoor and outdoor spaces, and altered their appointment processes. As national restrictions eased in June and July, the number and proportion of patients seen face to face generally increased. However, the reconfiguration of buildings and processes reduced the available capacity and put increased pressure on practices.
conclusionPractices responded rapidly and creatively to the initial lockdown restrictions. The variety of ways practices organised face-to-face contact to minimise infection highlights the need for flexibility in guidance.
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Registered trials
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