Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37936132›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2023

The district operation centres in one of the largest local health authorities in Italy to manage COVID-19 surveillance and homecare: first implementation and results of a survey addressed to general practitioners.

Emanuela Maria Frisicale, Andrea Barbara, Alessio Perilli, Elettra Carini, Adriano Grossi, Leonardo Simonetti, Giulia Tammam, Svetlana Axelrod, Angelo Tanese, Mauro Goletti and 1 more

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Article in BMC health services research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Emanuela Maria FrisicaleDirectorate General of Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy.
Andrea BarbaraDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. andrea.barbara@uniroma1.it.
Alessio PerilliDepartment of Life Sciences and Public Health, Hygiene Section, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Elettra CariniLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Adriano GrossiLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Leonardo SimonettiLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Giulia TammamLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Svetlana AxelrodWorld Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland.
Angelo TaneseLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Mauro GolettiLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
Paolo ParenteLocal Health Authority Roma 1, Rome, Italy.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCOVID-19 pandemic represented a shock for healthcare systems. Italy was one of the first country to deal with a huge number of patients to be diagnosed, isolated, and treated with scarce evidence-based guidelines and resources. Several organizational and structural changes were needed to face the pandemic at local level. The article aims at studying the perceived impact of the newly implemented District Operation Centres (DOCs) of Local Health Authority (LHA) Roma 1 in managing active surveillance and home care of COVID-19 patients and their close contacts in cooperation with general practitioners (GPs).

methodsA questionnaire, developed according to Delphi methodology, was validated by 7 experts and administered to a randomized sample of GPs and family paediatricians (FPs). All medical doctors selected received a phone interview between December 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire investigated general characteristics of the sample, relations with DOC and its usefulness, and potential developments. A descriptive analysis was performed and inferential statistical tests were used to assess differences.

resultsIn April 2020 the LHA Roma 1 implemented one DOCs in each local health district. 215 medical doctors were interviewed, reaching the sample target for health districts (80% CL and 10% MOE) and the whole LHA (90% CL and 5% MOE). Several aspects in the management of COVID-19 cases and close contacts of COVID-19 cases, and of the support of DOCs to GPs/FPs were investigated. More than 55% of the GPs and FPs interviewed found the DOCs useful and more than 78% would recommend a service DOC-like to other LHAs. The medical professionals interviewed would use DOCs in the future as support in treating vulnerable patients, utilizing digital health tools, enlisting specialist doctors, establishing networks, and facilitating professional counselling by nurses.

conclusionsThis study is an attempt to evaluate an organizational change happened during COVID-19 pandemic. DOCs were created to support GPs and FPs as a link between primary healthcare and public health. Although several difficulties were disclosed, DOCs' experience can help to overcome the fragmentation of the systems and the duality between primary care and public health and make the system more resilient.

Indexed as

COVID-19General PractitionersHome Care ServicesHumansPandemicsSurveys and QuestionnairesChange managementCOVID-19Organizational innovationPrimary healthcareProcess evaluation

Identifiers

PMID37936132
PMCPMC10629134

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LicenceCC BY
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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.