Implementation of a virtual community of practice to promote the empowerment of middle-aged people with multimorbidity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Empowering people living with multimorbidity (multiple chronic conditions) to gain greater confidence in managing their health can enhance their quality of life. Education focused on self-management is a key tool for fostering patient empowerment and is mostly provided on an individual basis. Virtual communities of practice (VCoP) present a unique opportunity for online education in chronic condition self-management within a social context. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness/cost-effectiveness of individualised, online self-management education compared with VCoP among middle-aged individuals living with multiple chronic conditions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: People aged 30-60, living with ≥2 chronic conditions and receiving care in primary care (PC) centres and outpatient hospital-based clinics in Madrid and Canary Islands will enrol in an 18-month parallel-design, blinded (intervention assessment and data analysts), pragmatic (adhering to the intention-to-treat principle), individually randomised trial. The trial will compare two 12-month web-based educational offers of identical content; one delivered individually (control) and the other with online social interaction (VCoP, intervention). Using repeated measures mixed linear models, with the patient as random effect and allocation groups and time per group as fixed effects, we will estimate between-arm differences in the change in Patient Activation Measure from baseline to 12 months (primary endpoint), including measurements at 6-month and 18-month follow-up. Other outcomes will include measures of depression and anxiety, treatment burden, quality of life. In addition to a process evaluation of the VCoP, we will conduct an economic evaluation estimating the relative cost-effectiveness of the VCoP from the perspectives of both the National Health System and the Community. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committees of Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid/Nuestra Señora Candelaria University Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The results will be disseminated through workshops, policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications and local/international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06046326.

Clinical pathway of COVID-19 patients in primary health care in 30 European countries: Eurodata study.

BACKGROUND: Most COVID-19 patients were treated in primary health care (PHC) in Europe. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the scope of PHC workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasising similarities and differences of patient's clinical pathways in Europe. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with data acquired through a semi-structured questionnaire in PHC in 30 European countries, created ad hoc and agreed upon among all researchers who participated in the study. GPs from each country answered the approved questionnaire. Main variable: PHC COVID-19 acute clinical pathway. All variables were collected from each country as of September 2020. RESULTS: COVID-19 clinics in PHC facilities were organised in 8/30. Case detection and testing were performed in PHC in 27/30 countries. RT-PCR and lateral flow tests were performed in PHC in 23/30, free of charge with a medical prescription. Contact tracing was performed mainly by public health authorities. Mandatory isolation ranged from 5 to 14 days. Sick leave certification was given exclusively by GPs in 21/30 countries. Patient hotels or other resources to isolate patients were available in 12/30. Follow-up to monitor the symptoms and/or new complementary tests was made mainly by phone call (27/30). Chest X-ray and phlebotomy were performed in PHC in 18/30 and 23/30 countries, respectively. Oxygen and low-molecular-weight heparin were available in PHC (21/30). CONCLUSION: In Europe PHC participated in many steps to diagnose, treat and monitor COVID-19 patients. Differences among countries might be addressed at European level for the management of future pandemics.

[COVID suspected patients in Primary Care in Madrid at the beginning of first wave: Clinical characteristics and healthcare assistance.] / El Circuito COVID en Atención Primaria en Madrid durante el inicio de la primera ola: características clínicas y actividad asistencial.

OBJECTIVE: Primary Care (PC) must attend and follow COVID-19 patients with mild and moderate symptoms, and identify severe cases. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients attended in PC with suspicious COVID-19 and health care provision by PC. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal observational study of electronic health records (EHR) and agendas. Probabilistic sampling of suspicious COVID-19 patients' pathway in 5 health centers in Madrid between March 16 and 20, 2020. The variables used were sociodemographic, symptoms, examination, radiography, characteristics of schedules and professional sick leaves. Descriptive analysis and time to event (pneumonia). RESULTS: 240 EHR were reviewed. Average age 48 years, 60% women. Most frequent symptoms: cough (80%) and elevation of temperature (63%). Pneumonia appeared in 23%. 73% were bilateral. Age and male gender were related to pneumonia. 20% required admission. 7 patients died (2.9%). 19,027 COVID-19 appointments were scheduled in PC. 60% of patients were attended in PC without performing chest X-ray or assistance by other care level. 22.4% of GPs working days were absent because of sick leaves. Differences were found amongst facilities in chest X-ray requesting (max. 62%, min. 2%). The PC center with the fewest X-rays requested was the one with the major number of sick leaves. CONCLUSIONS: Age and male gender were related to pneumonia onset in PC. Health care activity was intense, and variability was found amongst facilities. Professional sick leaves could affect the quality of care.

OBJETIVO: La Atención Primaria (AP) debe atender y hacer un seguimiento a pacientes COVID-19 con cuadros leves y moderados, e identificar casos graves. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características de los pacientes atendidos en AP con sospecha de COVID-19 y la provisión de atención sanitaria en AP. METODOS: Estudio observacional longitudinal retrospectivo de historias clínicas y agendas. Muestreo probabilístico de pacientes atendidos en el circuito de sospecha de COVID-19 en 5 centros de salud en Madrid entre el 16 y 20 de marzo 2020. Las variables utilizadas fueron sociodemográficas, síntomas, exploración, radiografía, características de las agendas y de las ausencias de profesionales. Análisis descriptivo y de tiempo hasta evento (neumonía). RESULTADOS: Se revisaron 240 historias. Edad media 48 años, 60% mujeres. Síntomas más frecuentes: tos (80%) y elevación de temperatura (63%). Apareció neumonía en el 23%. El 73% fueron bilaterales. La edad y el sexo masculino se relacionaron con la aparición de neumonía. Precisó ingreso el 20%. Fallecieron 7 pacientes (2,9%). Se atendieron 19.027 citas. El 60% de pacientes fue atendido en AP sin radiografía ni valoración por otro nivel asistencial. Fueron baja laboral el 22,4% de las jornadas de Medicina. Hubo diferencias entre centros en la realización de radiografías (máximo 62%, mínimo 2%), el centro con menos radiografías solicitadas fue el que más bajas laborales presentó (41,3%). CONCLUSIONES: La edad y sexo masculino se correlacionaron con la aparición de neumonía en AP. La actividad asistencial fue intensa y se identificó variabilidad entre centros. Las bajas profesionales pudieron afectar a la calidad de la atención.

SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia follow-up and long COVID in primary care: A retrospective observational study in Madrid city.

BACKGROUND: Patients with COVID-19 are follow-up in primary care and long COVID is scarcely defined. The study aim was to describe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and cut-offs for defining long COVID in primary care follow-up patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study in primary care in Madrid, Spain, was conducted. Data was collected during 6 months (April to September) in 2020, during COVID-19 first wave, from patients ≥ 18 years with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia diagnosed. Variables: sociodemographic, comorbidities, COVID-19 symptoms and complications, laboratory test and chest X-ray. Descriptive statistics were used, mean (standard deviation (SD)) and medians (interquartile range (IQR)) respectively. Differences were detected applying X2 test, Student's T-test, ANOVA, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis depending on variable characteristics. RESULTS: 155 patients presented pneumonia in day 7.8 from the onset (79.4% were hospitalized, median length of 7.0 days (IQR: 3.0, 13.0)). After discharge, the follow-up lasted 54.0 median days (IQR 42.0, 88.0) and 12.2 mean (SD 6.4) phone calls were registered per patient. The main symptoms and their duration were: cough (41.9%, 12 days), dyspnoea (31.0%, 15 days), asthenia (26.5%, 21 days). Different cut-off points were applied for long COVID and week 4 was considered the best milestone (28.3% of the sample still had symptoms after week 4) versus week 12 (8.3%). Patients who still had symptoms >4 weeks follow-up took place over 81.0 days (IQR: 50.5, 103.0), their symptoms were more prevalent and lasted longer than those ≤ 4 weeks: cough (63.6% 30 days), dyspnoea (54.6%, 46 days), and asthenia (56.8%, 29 days). Embolism was more frequent in patients who still had symptoms >4 weeks than those with symptoms ≤4 weeks (9.1% vs 1.8%, p value 0.034). CONCLUSION: Most patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia recovered during the first 4 weeks from the beginning of the infection. The cut-off point to define long COVID, as persisting symptoms, should be between 4 to 12 weeks from the onset of the symptoms.