[Follow-up outpatient clinics for patients with post COVID: a survey to assess and characterize aspects of care]. / Nachsorgeambulanzen für Patient*innen mit Post-COVID: eine Befragung zur Bestandsaufnahme und Charakterisierung von Versorgungsaspekten.

After acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, up to 10 % of affected individuals suffer from long-term health impairments, also referred to as "Post-COVID". In Germany, specialized outpatient clinics have been established to care for patients with Post-COVID. A structured survey of the care situation is not yet available, but essential for a demand-oriented care. The present study aimed to systematically assess and describe structural and process-related aspects of care, and to perform an inventory and needs analysis of Post-COVID outpatient clinics in Germany.An online survey was developed assessing the structure and organization of the outpatient clinics, service offerings and networking of care from the perspective of the outpatient clinic directors. A total of 95 outpatient clinics were identified, and an invitation to participate in the online survey was sent via e-mail to the directors of the outpatient clinics. Data were collected between February and May 2022. Descriptive data analysis was performed.A total of 28 outpatient clinic managers (29 %) took part in the survey. Participants were between 32 and 66 years old, and 61 % (n = 17) were male. The outpatient clinics were most frequently affiliated with the specialties of pneumology (n = 10; 36 %), internal medicine, psychiatric and psychosomatic medicine, and neurology (n = 8; 29 %, respectively). Among the outpatient clinic directors, 64 % (n = 18) stated that the time spent waiting for an appointment was more than one month. Utilization (n = 25; 89 %), appointment demand (n = 26; 93 %), and the need for more Post-COVID outpatient clinics (n = 20; 71 %) were rated as high by the outpatient clinic directors. Nearly all directors reported networking with in-clinic facilities (n = 27; 96 %), with primary care physicians and with specialists in private practice (n = 21; 75 %, respectively).The main focus of care is pneumology. Internal medicine, psychiatry/psychosomatics and neurology are also equally represented. Our data further suggest a high demand for Post-COVID outpatient clinics and the need to expand this care offer.

Health Literacy in Pediatric Consultations on Allergy Prevention.

BACKGROUND: The first 3 years of life offer an opportunity to prevent allergic diseases. Pediatricians are an important source of health information for parents. However, a certain degree of health literacy is necessary to understand, appraise, and apply preventive behavior, which can be supported by health literacy (HL) sensitive consultations and a HL friendly environment. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we want to shed light on how pediatricians in outpatient care in Germany advise on early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP) and how they consider parental HL. METHODS: We conducted 19 semi-standardized telephone interviews with pediatricians from North-Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, pseudonymized, and subjected to content analysis. KEY RESULTS: Current ECAP recommendations were well known among our sample. Despite the shift of evidence from avoidance of allergens toward early exposure, providing advice on ECAP was considered non-controversial and it was widely assumed that recommendations were easy to understand and apply for parents. However, ECAP was treated as an implicit topic resonating among others like infant nutrition and hygiene. Regarding HL, our interview partners were not aware of HL as a concept. However, they deemed it necessary to somehow assess parental information level and ability to understand provided information. Formal HL screening was not applied, but implicit strategies based on intuition and experience. Concerning effective HL-sensitive communication techniques, interviewees named the adaptation of language and visual support of explanations. More advanced techniques like Teach Back were considered too time-consuming. Medical assistants were considered important in providing an HL-sensitive environment. Time constraints and the high amount of information were considered major barriers regarding HL-sensitive ECAP counseling. CONCLUSION: It seems warranted to enhance professional education and training for pediatricians in HL and HL-sensitive communication, to reach all parents with HL-sensitive ECAP counseling. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2024;8(2):e47-e61.].

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We asked pediatricians how they advise parents on prevention of allergy in children. We found that pediatricians were well aware of the recommendations on allergy prevention, but they did not pass on all the information to parents. The HL of parents (that is the ability to find, understand, appraise, and apply health information) was not an important issue for the doctors.