Primary health care physicians’ perspective on COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar: a web-based survey

OBJECTIVES: To assess primary care physicians’ satisfaction towards COVID-19 pandemic management in Qatar and to identify the associated factors with their satisfaction. DESIGN: A cross-sectional web-based survey conducted from 1 June to 30 July 2020. SETTING: All the 27 public primary healthcare centres in Qatar. PARTICIPANTS: 294 primary care physicians working in the publicly run primary healthcare corporation in Qatar. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall satisfaction towards COVID-19 management in Qatar and satisfaction towards each aspect of this management including COVID-19 clinical practice guidelines, psychological support, team dynamics, work safety as well as institutional and governmental regulations. RESULTS: 294 primary care physicians participated in the survey with a response rate of 65%. Overall satisfaction of physicians towards COVID-19 19 management at Primary Health Care Corporation was 77%. The highest satisfaction was towards institutional and governmental support while it was the lowest towards the corporation case definition and management of COVID-19 guidelines. Female physicians were less satisfied with psychological support in comparison to males (64.1% and 51% respectively, p=0.049). Overall satisfaction towards case definition and management of COVID-19 guidelines were strongly correlated with their clarity, updating these guidelines in due time and applicability of the guidelines (r=0.759 P<0.001; r=0.701 P<0.001; r=0.698 P<0.001) respectively, while satisfaction towards work safety was strongly correlated with availability and quality of Personal Protective Equipment provided (r=0.83 P<0.001 and r=0.811 P<0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: Most primary care physicians in Qatar who responded to the survey were satisfied with the COVID-19 guidelines developed rapidly in response to this pandemic. Availability and quality of PPE were a particular concern. The clinicians who were less satisfied were younger and female.