Primary healthcare in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in Sweden.

objectiveTo explore how primary healthcare workers in Sweden experienced and perceived the long-term impact of the pandemic on their work.

designThis is a descriptive qualitative study with individual semistructured interviews conducted 2 years after the onset of COVID-19. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

settingSwedish primary healthcare units in rural and urban locations.

participants29 healthcare providers (6 registered nurses, 7 assistant nurses, 8 physicians and 8 managers) in Swedish primary healthcare.

resultsData analysis yielded three overarching themes: (1) primary healthcare still affected by the pandemic; (2) primary healthcare changes made permanent; and (3) lessons learnt for handling future crises affecting primary healthcare. The participants experienced a high workload, even after the pandemic, and concluded that it would take years to catch up both mentally and workwise. Four lessons were learnt for future handling of crises that might affect primary healthcare: the importance of creating a cohesive primary healthcare management system to provide clarity regarding recommendations for how primary healthcare personnel should work, the need for management support at all levels, restricting and adapting the flow of information for primary healthcare and ascertaining the necessary resources if primary healthcare is to take on additional tasks.

conclusionTwo years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary healthcare workers in Sweden experienced that their work was still affected by the pandemic. Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring sufficient recovery time and providing opportunities for reflection on the experiences of primary healthcare personnel. This also includes preparedness for managing the heavy workload and strained energy levels of healthcare workers in the aftermath of a crisis.