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Het mijden van huisartsenzorg tijdens de coronapandemie: inzicht in verminderde huisartsenzorg tijdens de coronapandemie.

Lambooij, M.S., Heins, M., Meijer, M., Vader, S., Jong, J. de. Het mijden van huisartsenzorg tijdens de coronapandemie: inzicht in verminderde huisartsenzorg tijdens de coronapandemie. Bilthoven / Utrecht: RIVM / Nivel, 2022. 76 p.
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Synopsis

In the Netherlands, the initial point of contact for people who have a health-related question is their GP. Reports in the media at the start of the coronavirus pandemic suggested that people were afraid to go and see their GP. RIVM and the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel) have studied the incidence of and reasons for this.

The total number of GP visits between March and June 2020 (during the first wave of the pandemic) was on average 11% lower than the figure for the same period in 2019. The number of GP visits in response to symptoms possibly related to for instance cancer or heart disease, was 21% lower. The percentage of short consultations was higher during the first wave. These were most likely telephone consultations, or email communication.

During the summer, the number of consultations returned to ‘pre-pandemic’ levels, i.e. levels similar to the same period in 2019. This would suggest that the missed consultations during the first wave were not caught up. The percentage of short consultations remained higher since the first wave than it was prior to the pandemic, suggesting long-lasting changes in the care that GPs delivered.

Incidentally, fewer GP appointments were required during the first wave. The lockdown and coronavirus restrictions resulted in fewer sports injuries and lower rates of infectious disease.
People refrained from care for various reasons. Some did not deem their symptoms serious enough to visit their GP. Others stated that the GP assistant told them their symptoms were not serious enough for a GP appointment.

People’s decisions were influenced by media reports on the overburdened healthcare system, a fear of getting infected or a fear of infecting others. Others believed that getting a GP appointment would be impossible.