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. 2024 Jul 25;24(1):841.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11278-4.

Strategies to strengthen the resilience of primary health care in the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad  1 , Mahnaz Afshari  2 , Parvaneh Isfahani  3 , Farahnaz Ezzati  4 , Mahdi Abbasi  4 , Shahrzad Akhavan Farahani  4 , Maryam Zahmatkesh  5 , Leila Eslambolchi  6
Affiliations

Strategies to strengthen the resilience of primary health care in the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) systems are pivotal in delivering essential health services during crises, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. With varied global strategies to reinforce PHC systems, this scoping review consolidates these efforts, identifying and categorizing key resilience-building strategies.

Methods: Adopting Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, this study synthesized literature across five databases and Google Scholar, encompassing studies up to December 31st, 2022. We focused on English and Persian studies that addressed interventions to strengthen PHC amidst COVID-19. Data were analyzed through thematic framework analysis employing MAXQDA 10 software.

Results: Our review encapsulated 167 studies from 48 countries, revealing 194 interventions to strengthen PHC resilience, categorized into governance and leadership, financing, workforce, infrastructures, information systems, and service delivery. Notable strategies included telemedicine, workforce training, psychological support, and enhanced health information systems. The diversity of the interventions reflects a robust global response, emphasizing the adaptability of strategies across different health systems.

Conclusions: The study underscored the need for well-resourced, managed, and adaptable PHC systems, capable of maintaining continuity in health services during emergencies. The identified interventions suggested a roadmap for integrating resilience into PHC, essential for global health security. This collective knowledge offered a strategic framework to enhance PHC systems' readiness for future health challenges, contributing to the overall sustainability and effectiveness of global health systems.

Keywords: COVID-19; Crisis; Pandemic; Primary health care system; Resilience; Strengthening strategies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA Flowchart of search process and results
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Fig. 2
Distribution of reviewed studies by country
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Fig. 3
An overview of the publication types
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A model for strengthening the resilience of the primary health care system
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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