ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created social and medical disruptions to the Australian community. The introduction of telehealth Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers in early March 2020 has shifted mental health consultations from face-to-face to telehealth. There is a literature gap pertaining to the ongoing trends that extend past the initial 'first wave' of the pandemic in the context of an Australian landscape. Aim/Objective: To describe the pattern of mental health care consultations in a university-based general practice in Sydney, specifically, the distribution of face-to-face, telephone and tele-video consultations, according to the change in socio-political landscape and lockdowns. The secondary aim is to explore the effect of age, ethnicity, birth sex and student status, and the severity of patient symptoms via K10/DASS21 scores. Method(s): Retrospective data will be obtained from records of 456 patients attending a university-based general practice in Sydney, Australia between four different 35-day time periods: baseline pre- COVID-19 (1st February 2019 to 8th March 2019);first COVID-19 lockdown (31st March 2020 to 5th May 2020);second COVID-19 lockdown (20th August 2021 to 24th September 2021);post COVID-19 lockdown (1st February 2022 to 8th March 2022). Attendances will be defined by mental health MBS codes that correspond to mental health consultations, mental health care plans, and mental health care plan reviews, for face-to-face, telephone and tele-video consultations. K10/DASS21 scores will also be obtained. Statistical analysis will be performed using the two-sample t-test on SPSS. Finding(s): Data analysis is currently in progress. Results will be available by July 2022. Implications: Given the recent temporary telehealth extension announced by the Australian Government on 16th January 2022, the findings of our study will illustrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health consultations in various subgroups and provide additional data for policymakers to facilitate further examination in continuing MBS subsidisation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Covid-19 has created unique challenges for clinical research, partly due to changes in how patients are seen in general practice and the introduction of telehealth. There were also competing demands on general practitioners (GPs) who were managing the pandemic and specifically the vaccination roll out. Our research team was funded by an RACGP Grant in 2020 to conduct a study to develop and test a GP-Practice nurse team-based model of care for Mandarin speaking international students seeking sexual and reproductive healthcare. The study ran over 2021 and the early part of 2022. Aim(s): To highlight the challenges and lessons learnt in conducting clinical research during 2020/21. Method(s): The researchers will describe their experience of conducting a clinical research study during Covid-19, specifically in the context of recruiting international university students. Finding(s): Over the course of conducting the study for 18 months, there was progress moving forward and then steps backwards, akin to a game of snakes and ladders. Challenges encountered included: * Recruiting Mandarin speaking international students, when a significant proportion had returned home or were unable to enter Australia due to border control policies * Competing clinical demands due to the pandemic, including the management of Covid-19 positive patients, significant practice resources dedicated to the vaccination roll out and staff rostering changes due to illness * Prolonged lockdowns, which affected clinical practice and the ability to complete patient consultations as part of a research project * The Mandarin speaking project officer returning overseas. Implications: Despite the challenges experienced, the study was completed. This involved ongoing review and adaptation of expectations including pushing back timelines, requesting extensions relating to the Research Grant, reducing patient recruitment numbers and translating a face-to-face focus group to an online environment across two countries. It was a stressful but insightful experience for the researchers.