Development of a primary care pandemic plan informed by in-depth policy analysis and interviews with family physicians across Canada during COVID-19: a qualitative case study protocol

Development of a primary care pandemic plan informed by in-depth policy analysis and interviews with family physicians across Canada during COVID-19: a qualitative case study protocol

IntroductionGiven the recurrent risk of respiratory illness-based pandemics, and the important roles family physicians play during public health emergencies, the development of pandemic plans for primary care is imperative. Existing pandemic plans in Canada, however, do not adequately incorporate fa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open Vol. 11; no. 7; p. e048209
Main Authors: Mathews, Maria, Spencer, Sarah, Hedden, Lindsay, Marshall, Emily Gard, Lukewich, Julia, Meredith, Leslie, Ryan, Dana, Buote, Richard, Liu, Tiffany, Volpe, Emily, Gill, Paul S, Ryan, Bridget, Schacter, Gordon, Wickett, Jamie, Freeman, Thomas R, Sibbald, Shannon L, Wong, Eric, McKay, Maddi, McCracken, Rita, Brown, Judith Belle
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 22-07-2021
BMJ Publishing Group
Series:Protocol
Subjects:
British Columbia
Community
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Disease transmission
Emergency medical care
Epidemics
Gender
Humans
Long term health care
Medical research
Newfoundland and Labrador - epidemiology
Nova Scotia
Ontario - epidemiology
Pandemics
Personal protective equipment
Physicians
Physicians, Family
Policy Making
Primary care
Primary Health Care
Public health
Qualitative Research
Regions
Roles
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Newfoundland and Labrador
British Columbia Canada
Canada
Newfoundland & Labrador Canada
Nova Scotia Canada
COVID-19
primary care
qualitative research
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Description
Summary:IntroductionGiven the recurrent risk of respiratory illness-based pandemics, and the important roles family physicians play during public health emergencies, the development of pandemic plans for primary care is imperative. Existing pandemic plans in Canada, however, do not adequately incorporate family physicians’ roles and perspectives. This policy and planning oversight has become increasingly evident with the emergence of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, pandemic. This study is designed to inform the development of pandemic plans for primary care through evidence from four provinces in Canada: British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.Methods and analysisWe will employ a multiple-case study of regions in four provinces. Each case consists of a mixed methods design which comprises: (1) a chronology of family physician roles in the COVID-19 pandemic response; (2) a provincial policy analysis; and (3) qualitative interviews with family physicians. Relevant policy and guidance documents will be identified through targeted, snowball and general search strategies. Additionally, these policy documents will be analysed to identify gaps and/or emphases in existing policies and policy responses. Interviews will explore family physicians’ proposed, actual and potential roles during the pandemic, the facilitators and barriers they have encountered throughout and the influence of gender on their professional roles. Data will be thematically analysed using a content analysis framework, first at the regional level and then through cross-case analyses.Ethics and disseminationApproval for this study has been granted by the Research Ethics of British Columbia, the Health Research Ethics Board of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Nova Scotia Health Authority Research Ethics Board and the Western University Research Ethics Board. Findings will be disseminated via conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Evidence and lessons learnt will be used to develop tools for government ministries, public health units and family physicians for improved pandemic response plans for primary care.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048209