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

Infect Dis Health. 2021 Aug;26(3):166-172. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2021.01.004. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Authors

Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo¹, Shizar Nahidi¹, Cecilia Li¹, Charlotte Hespe², Penelope L Burns³, Ramon Z Shaban⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: cristina.sotomayor@sydney.edu.au.
² General Practice and Primary Care Research, School of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ Academic Unit of General Practice, Australian National University Medical School, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Division of Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health, Westmead Hospital and Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW, Australia; New South Wales Biocontainment Centre, Western Sydney Local Health District and New South Wales Health, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: ramon.shaban@sydney.edu.au.

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
COVID-19 / psychology*
COVID-19 / therapy
Cross-Sectional Studies
General Practitioners / education
General Practitioners / psychology*
Health Education
Humans
Knowledge*
Personal Protective Equipment