Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36657761›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2023

At the edge of chaos: a prospective multiple case study in Australian general practices adapting to COVID-19.

Grant Russell, Riki Lane, Jennifer Neil, Jenny Advocat, Elizabeth Ann Sturgiss, Timothy Staunton Smith, Karyn Alexander, Simon Hattle, Benjamin F Crabtree, William L Miller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Grant RussellDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia grant.russell@monash.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-3773-2355
Riki LaneDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3334-5545
Jennifer NeilDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Jenny AdvocatDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Elizabeth Ann SturgissDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4428-4060
Timothy Staunton SmithDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Karyn AlexanderDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Simon HattleDepartment of General Practice, Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Benjamin F CrabtreeResearch Division, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
William L MillerDepartment of Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe rapid onset and progressive course of the COVID-19 pandemic challenged primary care practices to generate rapid solutions to unique circumstances, creating a natural experiment of effectiveness, resilience, financial stability and governance across primary care models. We aimed to characterise how practices in Melbourne, Australia modified clinical and organisational routines in response to the pandemic in 2020-2021 and identify factors that influenced these changes.

designProspective, qualitative, participatory case study design using constant comparative data analysis, conducted between April 2020 and February 2021. Participant general practitioner (GP) investigators were involved in study design, recruitment of other participants, data collection and analysis. Data analysis included investigator diaries, structured practice observation, documents and interviews.

settingThe cases were six Melbourne practices of varying size and organisational model.

participantsGP investigators approached potential participants. Practice healthcare workers were interviewed by social scientists on three occasions, and provided feedback on presentations of preliminary findings.

resultsWe conducted 58 interviews with 26 practice healthcare workers including practice owners, practice managers, GPs, receptionists and nurses; and six interviews with GP investigators. Data saturation was achieved within each practice and across the sample. The pandemic generated changes to triage, clinical care, infection control and organisational routines, particularly around telehealth. While collaboration and trust increased within several practices, others fragmented, leaving staff isolated and demoralised. Financial and organisational stability, collaborative problem solving, creative leadership and communication (internally and within the broader healthcare sector) were major influences on practice ability to negotiate the pandemic.

conclusionsThis study demonstrates the complex influences on primary care practices, and reinforces the strengths of clinician participation in research design, conduct and analysis. Two implications are: telehealth, triage and infection management innovations are likely to continue; the existing payment system provides inadequate support to primary care in a global pandemic.

Indexed as

COVID-19General PracticeGeneral PractitionersAustraliaHumansPandemicsProspective StudiesChange managementHealth policyPRIMARY CAREVIROLOGY

Identifiers

PMID36657761
PMCPMC9852738

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.