Towards a liquid healthcare: primary care organisational and management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the organisational and management strategies of healthcare institutions such as primary care centres. Organisational culture as well as leadership style are key issues for the success of these institutions. Due to the multidimensional nature of identity processes, it is necessary to explore the changes experienced by health professionals from these perspectives. This study explores health professionals' organisational and management strategies in primary care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Qualitative, exploratory study based on the analysis of participants' accounts within a hermeneutic phenomenologicaly approach. METHODS: Research was conducted in primary care settings in two neighbouring Spanish healthcare regions. The sample included participants with different demographics (gender, age), professional roles (practice managers, general practitioners, paediatricians), employment status (permanent, temporary, zero-hours), and years of experience (under or over ten years' experience). Data were collected between July and December 2020 through focus groups and in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews. RESULTS: A total of 53 primary care workers participated in the study, of which 38 were individually interviewed and 15 participated in three focus groups. Of these, 78.4% were healthcare professionals, 49% were female nurses, and 70.5% had more than 10 years of work experience in primary care. Two main themes emerged: "liquid" healthcare and "the best healthcare system in the world". During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, new, more fluid organisational and management models were implemented in primary care settings, which have remained in place since. Primary care workers' perceived a lack of appreciation and inclusion in decision-making that risked their alienation and disengagement. CONCLUSION: Primary care workers' professional identity became gradually blurred due to shifting perceptions of their professional roles in a context of increasing improvisation and flexible working practices. This affected their professional performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethical Committee of the Talavera de la Reina Integrated Management Area (CEIm del AGI de Talavera de la Reina in Spain, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, ref: 23/2020).

Internal dynamics within primary care teams in two Spanish regions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Pandemics and epidemics have represented public health emergencies with severe consequences at a global level. Primary care teams have played a crucial role in disease surveillance and monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic through early detection, contact tracing, and isolation of positive cases. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care teams regarding their internal dynamics and their professional performance. METHODS: Qualitative study carried out between July and December 2020 in two large central and southern Spanish regions (Castilla la Mancha and Madrid). Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with primary care workers. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Participants were accessed using purposive sampling. RESULTS: A total of 53 primary care workers participated in the study, of which 38 were individually interviewed, and 15 participated in three focus groups.The analysis of their experiences revealed two main themes regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care teams: 1) The need to reorganise traditional roles: Primary care settings closed their doors to the public and their workers restructured their roles to ensure the delivery of essential services; 2) The need to implement a new primary care delivery model: Each primary care team had to self-organise, making sure their reference population was cared for and developing resource optimisation strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care teams have quickly adapted their roles and internal dynamics to respond to the demands generated by COVID-19. In the new delivery model, some positive aspects could be highlighted - such as increased communication between professionals and the use of telemedicine for some cases. However, it is important to address the negative impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on of the main functions of primary care. These measures are necessary to promote well-being in primary care teams, and to provide quality care that addresses the complex and individual needs of each person and reduces inequalities in healthcare delivery.

Percepción de familia entre mujeres embarazadas del norte de Portugal / Perception of family among pregnant women in the north of Portugal / Perceção da familia nas mulheres grávidas no norte de Portugal / Perception de famille chez les femmes enceintes dans le nord du Portugal

Resumen Objetivo: Analizarlas diferentes formas de construir la referencia de "ser una familia" en distintos ámbitos rurales y urbanos, a partir de las razones que hay detrás de la decisión de tener hijos. Materiales y métodos: Estudio cualitativo diseñado y analizado a partir del estudio de casos de diferentes áreas de salud del norte de Portugal. La metodología implicó la realización de entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 50 mujeres embarazadas en busca de sus significados recurriendo para ello al análisis de contenido. Resultados: Se identificó la categoría que denominamos "Modelo de referencia familiar", en la cual se señalan dos subcategorías: el sueño sobre la construcción de una nueva familia y el sueño hecho realidad. Estos resultados hacen coincidir la idea de las aspiraciones (ideal inicial, antes de quedar embarazada) y la de las representaciones (ideal abstracto). Los resultados apuntan a unos ideales orientados a la familia y pero muestran una disminución en el número de hijos por mujer consecuencia también de un cálculo en el cual son ponderados los costos asociados con esta decisión. Conclusiónes: Del universo de las aspiraciones, se impone la evocación del deseo de tener hijos, pues fueron realmente pocas las encuestadas que diseñaron un proyecto de vida sin hijos. Sin embargo, vemos una disonancia entre las aspiraciones iniciales y la nueva realidad. Se concluye que existe un proceso de elección entre tener o no hijos, así como la transición a la parentalidad como proyecto conyugal.

Abstract Objective: To analyze the different ways of 'being a family' and that predomínate in different social contexts ranging from rural to urban spaces based on the reasons that support the decision to have children. Materials and methods: A qualitative study was designed and analyzed using case studies of different health areas of northern Portugal. The methodology used was based on semi-structured interviews with 50 pregnant women. It was done a content analysis of interviews. Results: Based on the stories obtained through interviews, we identified the category "reference model of family ", in which two subcategories listed was identified: "the dream of building a new family" and "the dream come true". These results match the idea of aspirations (initial ideal) and representations (abstract ideal). The results suggest a family oriented by ideals and show a decrease in the number of children per woman. This is the result of a perception of the associated costs of this decision. Conclusions: From the universe of aspirations centered in the desire for children, only a few women prefer a life without children. However, we identified a dissonance between the initial aspirations and the practices. It is concluded that there is a process of choice between having children, as well as the transition to parenthood as a conjugal project.

Resumo Objectivo: Analisar os diferentes modos de «ser familia¼ e que predominam em contextos sociais que vão desde a ruralidade até a urbanidade tendo por base as razões que sustentam a decisão de ter descendência. Materiais e métodos: Estudo qualitativo com base em estudo de casos em diferentes centros de saúde no norte de Portugal. A metodologia envolveu a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas a 50 mulheres grávidas. Para analisar os dados recorreu-se a análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Com base nos relatos obtidos identificou-se a categoria "Modelo de referencia familiar", que identifica duas subcategorias: A construção da nova familia: o sonho e o sonho tornado realidade. Estes resultados correspondem as aspirações de ideia (ideal inicial, antes de engravidar) e as representações (ideal abstracto). Conclusões: Os resultados apontam para um ideal de familia orientado para os dois filhos e demonstram uma diminução do número de filhos por mulher. A diminução do número de filhos é também o resultado de um cálculo onde são ponderados os custos associados a esta decisão. Do universo das aspirações impõe-se a evocação da vontade de ter filhos. Foram realmente poucas as inquiridas que traçaram um projeto de vida sem filhos. Todavia verificamos uma dissonancia entre as aspirações iniciais e por conseguinte com as práticas.

Résumé Objectif: Analyser les différentes formes de «etre famille¼ qui prédominent dans des contextes sociaux allant du rural a la vie urbaine ayant pour motifs la décision d'avoir des enfants. Matériaux et méthodes: Étude qualitative basée sur des études de cas dans des centres de santé primaires dans le nord du Portugal. La méthodologie se base sur des entrevues semi-structurées a 50 femmes enceintes. Pour analyser les données, on a utilisé l'analyse des contenus.. Résultats: Basé sur les données, on a identifié la catégorie «Modele de famille¼, qui identifie deux sous-catégories: la construction de la nouvelle famille : le reve et le reve devenu réalité. Ces résultats correspondent aux aspirations de l'idée (idéal, avant la grossesse) et représentations (idéal abstrait). Les résultats pointent vers un idéal de famille orienté vers les enfants et montrent une diminution du nombre d'enfants par femme qui est également la conséquence de facteurs socioéconomiques qui influencent cette décision. L'univers des aspirations permet l'évocation du désir d'avoir des enfants. Conclusions: On a eu tres peu de femmes qui désirent une vie sans enfant. Cependant, nous voyons une dissonance entre les aspirations initiales (idéal) et les représentations (idéal abstrait). On conclut qu'il existe un choix entre avoir enfants, bien comme la transition vers la parentalité en tant que projet conjugal.