Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36944428›Full record

ArticleCMAJ open

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care physicians and nurses in Nova Scotia: a qualitative exploratory study.

Mark Embrett, Tanya L Packer, Emily Fitzgerald, Sabrena K Jaswal, Michelle J Lehman, Marion Brown, Fred Burge, Erin Christian, Jennifer E Isenor, Emily Gard Marshall and 4 more

Open access · diamondAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in CMAJ open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. From Policy to Practice: A Qualitative Study on Reforms and Frontline Retention in Healthcare.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing
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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

14 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Mark EmbrettResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS membrett@dal.ca.
Tanya L PackerResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Emily FitzgeraldResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Sabrena K JaswalResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Michelle J LehmanResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Marion BrownResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Fred BurgeResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Erin ChristianResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Jennifer E IsenorResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Emily Gard MarshallResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Ruth Martin-MisenerResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Tara SampalliResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Joanna ZedResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Jeanna Parsons LeighResearch, Innovation & Discovery (Embrett), Nova Scotia Health Authority, Queensland, NS; Schools of Health Administration (Packer, Fitzgerald, Jaswal, Lehman), Occupational Therapy (Packer, Jaswal, Lehman) and Social Work (Brown), and Department of Family Medicine (Burge, Marshall), Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Health Authority (Christian, Sampalli); College of Pharmacy (Isenor), Faculty of Health, and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Isenor), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Canadian Center for Vaccinology (Isenor); Faculty of Health (Martin-Misener, Zed), Dalhousie University; Faculty of Health Administration (Parsons Leigh), School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Dalhousie University · CANova Scotia Health Authority · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought immense disruption worldwide, dramatically altering the ways we live, work and learn on a day-to-day basis; however, few studies have investigated this from the perspective of primary care providers. In this study, we sought to explore the experiences of primary care providers in the province of Nova Scotia, with the intention of understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care providers' ability to provide care, their information pathways, and the personal and professional impact of the pandemic.

methodsWe conducted an exploratory qualitative research study involving semistructured interviews conducted via Zoom videoconferencing or telephone with primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners and family practice nurses) who self-identified as working in primary health care in Nova Scotia from June 2020 to April 2021. We performed a thematic analysis involving coding and classifying data according to themes. Emergent themes were then interpreted by seeking commonalties, divergence, relationships and overarching patterns in the data.

resultsTwenty-four primary care providers were interviewed. Subsequent analysis identified 4 interrelated themes within the data: disruption to work-life balance, disruptions to "non-COVID-19" patient care, impact of provincial and centralized policies, and filtering and processing an influx of information.

interpretationOur findings showed that managing a crisis of this magnitude requires coordination and new ways of working, balancing professional and personal life, and adapting to already implemented changes (i.e., virtual care). A specific primary care pandemic response plan is essential to mitigate the impact of future health care crises.

Indexed as

COVID-19Physicians, Primary CareHumansNova ScotiaPandemicsQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID36944428
PMCPMC10035666
OpenAlexW4328137217

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.