Patients' experience with German primary care practices during Covid-19: an interview study

Background: Patient access to and communication with German primary care practices (PCPs) changed due to Covid- 19. Patients had to comply with Covid- 19 regulations, which included closed waiting rooms and appointment - based consultations. It is unclear how patients experienced these changes and how the pandemic impacted their primary care attendance. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore how patients, who frequently attended PCPs before the pandemic, perceived primary care during the initial phase of Covid- 19 in Germany. Design & setting: Between January and June 2021, we completed 17 semi- structured interviews. Participants included primary care patients from two regions in Germany who frequently attended their physician before the start of the pandemic. Method: Data were analysed using content analysis. Results: Four interconnected themes emerged in the analysis: 'fear of COVID- 19 infection', 'practice organisation', 'information about COVID- 19', and 'telemedicine'. Participants were unconcerned about being infected in their practice and mostly agreed with COVID- 19 regulations, although waiting outside for their appointment was uncomfortable for some. Participants consulted their primary care physician in relation to different vaccines but felt they were sufficiently informed regarding general information about COVID- 19. Views on telemedicine, which was mostly understood as contact via telephone or video call, differed widely, with some participants being very accepting and interested, while others dismissed telemedicine categorically. Conclusion: Participants regarded the new COVID- 19 regulations as sensible. Telemedicine using telephone or video call consultations should be further explored under the assumption that this would be acceptable for some but not all patients.