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Practice and System Factors Impact on Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice during COVID-19 across 33 Countries: Results of the PRICOV Cross-Sectional Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Claire Collins

    (Research Centre, Irish College of General Practitioners, D02 XR68 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Esther Van Poel

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Milena Šantrić Milićević

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Katica Tripkovic

    (Institute of Public Health Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Limor Adler

    (Department of Family Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel)

  • Torunn Bjerve Eide

    (Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway)

  • Liubove Murauskiene

    (Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-01513 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Adam Windak

    (Department of Family Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-061 Krakow, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Nessler

    (Department of Family Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-061 Krakow, Poland)

  • Bernard Tahirbegolli

    (Management of Health Institutions and Services, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

  • Sara Willems

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

Abstract

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is an evidence-based approach used to reduce the risk of infection transmission within the healthcare environment. Effective IPC practices ensure safe and quality healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for enhanced IPC measures and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need for strict adherence to the basic principles of IPC. This paper aims to describe the IPC strategies implemented in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the factors that impact their adoption. Data were collected by means of an online self-reported questionnaire among general practices. Data from 4466 practices in 33 countries were included in the analysis. Our results showed a notable improvement in IPC during COVID-19 with more practices reporting that staff members never wore nail polish (increased from 34% to 46.2%); more practices reporting that staff never wear a ring/bracelet (increased from 16.1% to 32.3%); and more practices using a cleaning protocol (increased from 54.9% to 72.7%). Practice population size and the practice payment system were key factors related to adoption of a) range of IPC measures including patient flow arrangements and infrastructural elements. An understanding of the interplay between policy, culture, systemic supports, and behavior are necessary to obtain sustained improvement in IPC measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Claire Collins & Esther Van Poel & Milena Šantrić Milićević & Katica Tripkovic & Limor Adler & Torunn Bjerve Eide & Liubove Murauskiene & Adam Windak & Katarzyna Nessler & Bernard Tahirbegolli & Sara , 2022. "Practice and System Factors Impact on Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice during COVID-19 across 33 Countries: Results of the PRICOV Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7830-:d:848171
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    Cited by:

    1. Gazmend Bojaj & Bernard Tahirbegolli & Petrit Beqiri & Iliriana Alloqi Tahirbegolli & Esther Van Poel & Sara Willems & Nderim Rizanaj & Ilir Hoxha, 2023. "Health Service Management and Patient Safety in Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kosovo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.

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