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Home Research Research Library Impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: Perceptions of family physicians in the United States Impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: Perceptions of family physicians in the United States 2022 Author(s) Goldstein, Jessica Taylor, Eden, Aimee R, Taylor, Melina K, Dotson, Andrea, and Barreto, Tyler W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Maternity Care, and Quality Of Care Volume Birth Source Birth BACKGROUND: Patient-centered care is the best practice in the care of pregnant and postpartum patients. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted changes in perinatal care policies, which were often reactive, resulting in unintended consequences, many of which made the delivery of patient-centered care more difficult. This study aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal health care delivery from the perspective of family physicians in the United States. METHODS: From October 5 to November 4, 2020, we surveyed mid- to late-career family physicians who provide perinatal care. We conducted descriptive analyses to measure the impact of COVID-19 on prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, patient experience, and patient volume. An immersion-crystallization approach was used to analyze qualitative data provided as open-text comments. RESULTS: Of the 1518 survey respondents, 1062 (69.8%) stated that they currently attend births; 595 of those elaborated about the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care in free-text comments. Eight themes emerged related to the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care: visitation, patient decisions, testing, personal protective equipment, care continuity, changes in care delivery, reassignment, and volume. The greatest perceived impact of COVID-19 was on patient experience. CONCLUSIONS: Family physicians who provided perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic noted a considerable impact on patient experience, which particularly affected the ability to deliver patient-centered and family-centered care. Continued research is needed to understand the long-term impact of policies affecting the delivery of patient-centered perinatal care and to inform more evidence-based, proactive policies to be implemented in future pandemic or disaster situations. ABFM Research Read all 2024 Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology Go to Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology 2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings 2012 Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications Go to Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications 2017 Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training Go to Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training
Author(s) Goldstein, Jessica Taylor, Eden, Aimee R, Taylor, Melina K, Dotson, Andrea, and Barreto, Tyler W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Maternity Care, and Quality Of Care Volume Birth Source Birth
ABFM Research Read all 2024 Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology Go to Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology 2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings 2012 Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications Go to Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications 2017 Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training Go to Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training
2024 Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology Go to Primary Care Physicians’ Satisfaction With Interoperable Health Information Technology
2019 Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings Go to Accountable Care Organizations Serving Deprived Communities Are Less Likely to Share in Savings
2012 Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications Go to Family physicians closing their doors to children: considering the implications
2017 Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training Go to Factors Associated With Interest in Pursuing a Fourth Year of Family Medicine Residency Training
