General practitioners’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia

Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo; Shizar Nahidi; Cecilia Li; Charlotte Hespe; Penelope L. Burns; Ramon Z. Shaban

doi:10.1016/j.idh.2021.01.004

General practitioners’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia

Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo, Shizar Nahidi, Cecilia Li, Charlotte Hespe, Penelope L. Burns, Ramon Z. Shaban^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented demands to general practitioners (GPs) worldwide. We examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of GPs members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) was conducted between June and September 2020. Results: Out of 244 survey responses, a majority of GPs (76.6%) indicated having good knowledge of COVID-19, relying mostly on state/territory department of health (84.4%) and the RACGP (76.2%) websites to source up-to-date information. Most felt prepared to manage patients with COVID-19 (75.7%), yet over half reported not receiving training in the use of PPE. The majority were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2, more stressed than usual, and have heavier workloads. Their greatest challenges included scarcity of PPE, personal distress, and information overload. Conclusion: Access to PPE, training, accurate information, and preparedness are fundamental for the successful role of general practices during outbreaks.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	166-172
Number of pages	7
Journal	Infection, Disease and Health
Volume	26
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2021.01.004
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

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title = "General practitioners{\textquoteright} knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia",

abstract = "Background: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented demands to general practitioners (GPs) worldwide. We examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of GPs members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) was conducted between June and September 2020. Results: Out of 244 survey responses, a majority of GPs (76.6\%) indicated having good knowledge of COVID-19, relying mostly on state/territory department of health (84.4\%) and the RACGP (76.2\%) websites to source up-to-date information. Most felt prepared to manage patients with COVID-19 (75.7\%), yet over half reported not receiving training in the use of PPE. The majority were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2, more stressed than usual, and have heavier workloads. Their greatest challenges included scarcity of PPE, personal distress, and information overload. Conclusion: Access to PPE, training, accurate information, and preparedness are fundamental for the successful role of general practices during outbreaks.",

keywords = "COVID-19, General practitioners, Outbreaks, Personal protective equipment, Primary health care",

author = "Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo and Shizar Nahidi and Cecilia Li and Charlotte Hespe and Burns, \{Penelope L.\} and Shaban, \{Ramon Z.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.idh.2021.01.004",

language = "English",

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journal = "Infection, Disease and Health",

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T1 - General practitioners’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia

AU - Sotomayor-Castillo, Cristina

AU - Nahidi, Shizar

AU - Li, Cecilia

AU - Hespe, Charlotte

AU - Burns, Penelope L.

AU - Shaban, Ramon Z.

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - Background: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented demands to general practitioners (GPs) worldwide. We examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of GPs members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) was conducted between June and September 2020. Results: Out of 244 survey responses, a majority of GPs (76.6%) indicated having good knowledge of COVID-19, relying mostly on state/territory department of health (84.4%) and the RACGP (76.2%) websites to source up-to-date information. Most felt prepared to manage patients with COVID-19 (75.7%), yet over half reported not receiving training in the use of PPE. The majority were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2, more stressed than usual, and have heavier workloads. Their greatest challenges included scarcity of PPE, personal distress, and information overload. Conclusion: Access to PPE, training, accurate information, and preparedness are fundamental for the successful role of general practices during outbreaks.

AB - Background: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented demands to general practitioners (GPs) worldwide. We examined their knowledge, preparedness, and experiences managing COVID-19 in Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of GPs members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) was conducted between June and September 2020. Results: Out of 244 survey responses, a majority of GPs (76.6%) indicated having good knowledge of COVID-19, relying mostly on state/territory department of health (84.4%) and the RACGP (76.2%) websites to source up-to-date information. Most felt prepared to manage patients with COVID-19 (75.7%), yet over half reported not receiving training in the use of PPE. The majority were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2, more stressed than usual, and have heavier workloads. Their greatest challenges included scarcity of PPE, personal distress, and information overload. Conclusion: Access to PPE, training, accurate information, and preparedness are fundamental for the successful role of general practices during outbreaks.

KW - COVID-19

KW - General practitioners

KW - Outbreaks

KW - Personal protective equipment

KW - Primary health care

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85101985915

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DO - 10.1016/j.idh.2021.01.004

M3 - Article

SN - 2468-0451

VL - 26

SP - 166

EP - 172

JO - Infection, Disease and Health

JF - Infection, Disease and Health

IS - 3

ER -

General practitioners’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia

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