Article
Intended health care utilization and public beliefs about urgency in a severe case of COVID-19
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Authors
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Sarah Koens
- Institut für Medizinsiche Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
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Jens Klein
- Institut für Medizinsiche Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
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Annette Strauß
- Institut und Poliklinik für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
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Ingmar Schäfer
- Institut und Poliklinik für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
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Olaf von Dem Knesebeck
- Institut für Medizinsiche Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
| Published: | September 30, 2022 |
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Outline
Text
Background and status of (inter)national research: There are official recommendations for health care utilization when COVID-19 symptoms occur. Affected people should consult the GP by phone or call the medical on-call service. In case of an emergency, it is also recommended to call the rescue service. There are indications for an association between patients’ perceived urgency of symptoms and utilization of health care services.
Research question and objective: The aim was to explore variations in intended health care utilization and public beliefs about urgency in a severe case of COVID-19. The following research questions were addressed:
- 1.
- Does intended health care utilization vary by characteristics of the afflicted person and the respondents?
- 2.
- Does perceived urgency vary by characteristics of the afflicted person and the respondents?
Method or hypothesis: Vignettes describing a person with severe COVID-19 symptoms were used in a telephone survey in Hamburg (N=604). The vignettes varied according to sex (male/female), age (child, middle-aged person, old person) and daytime (Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening). Respondents were asked in an open-ended question about the intended health care utilization. Additionally, respondents were asked to rate the urgency of the symptoms. Variations in intended health care utilization and in perceptions of urgency according to vignette characteristics and characteristics of the respondents (sex, age, educational level, migration background, children and personal affliction) were analyzed in regression models.
Results: Most of the participants (62.4%) would chose the GP/pediatrician, 20.8% the medical on-call service, 12.7% emergency care (emergency department, emergency practice, rescue service), and 4.1% would chose other options (e.g. family/friends, watchful waiting). Intended utilization behavior varied according to various vignette characteristics (i.e. gender and age of the afflicted person as well as daytime). In terms of the respondents’ characteristics, differences by gender, age and prior personal affliction were identified. Regarding the vignette characteristics, estimated urgency differed by gender. In terms of the respondents’ characteristics, estimated urgency varied by age, migration background, education, and personal affliction.
Discussion: Despite an identical description of symptoms in all vignettes, variations in intended health care utilization as well as perceptions of urgency were identified.
Practical implications: Variations in intended health care utilization and in public beliefs about urgency should be considered in the planning of public campaigns on adequate utilization of health care services in severe cases of COVID-19.
Appeal for practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: Reasons for variations in intended health care utilization and in perceptions of urgency should be examined in future research.
Funding: BMBF-Strukturförderung Versorgungsforschung; 01GY1912
