ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 44
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Reflections of Australian general practitioners during
the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and
benefaction personally and professionally
Dr Seren Ovington, A/Prof Katrina Anderson, Emily Haesler, Melinda Choy
Academic Unit of General Practice, Australian National University
Background
General practitioners (GPs) have played an integral role in Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
GPs report the stress and ongoing challenges of the pandemic, but what was it really like for them at a
personal and professional level? This study aimed to increase our understanding of the experiences of
GPs working during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews. Using purposive sampling,
15 GPs from south-eastern Australia were asked to reflect on their experiences during the first year
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis.
Results
Five main themes were identified: fear of infection; uncertainty and information overload; impacts on
the government–GP relationship; impacts on the patient–doctor relationship; and teamwork within
practices and among GPs. A very positive finding that came through strongly in the interviews is that
the COVID-19 pandemic reminded many participants that caring for patients was their driving force
for working in general practice and connected them to the meaning of what they do as doctors in
primary care.
Conclusions
This study provided important insights into what can be done to help support GPs to respond to a
pandemic while continuing to deliver primary healthcare. Some key recommendations were around
priority access to, and provision of, practical measures to reduce the risk of infection for GPs (eg
provision of PPE, immunisation and facilitation of telehealth), single-source information that is reliable,
up-to-date and provides pandemic guidance, and strategies that support team work and create
collegiality.
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