Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis
Abstract Since the start of the pandemic, many national responses, such as nationwide lockdowns, have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. We aim to assess the impact of Singapore’s national responses on primary care utilisation. We performed an interrupted time series using acute and ch...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57142-7 |
| _version_ | 1797259278485028864 |
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| author | Vanessa Tan Gregory Ang Kelvin Bryan Tan Cynthia Chen |
| author_facet | Vanessa Tan Gregory Ang Kelvin Bryan Tan Cynthia Chen |
| author_sort | Vanessa Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Since the start of the pandemic, many national responses, such as nationwide lockdowns, have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. We aim to assess the impact of Singapore’s national responses on primary care utilisation. We performed an interrupted time series using acute and chronic primary care data of 3 168 578 visits between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 over four periods: before any measures were put in place, during Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) Orange, when Circuit Breaker was instituted, and when Circuit Breaker was lifted. We found significant mean reductions in acute and chronic primary care visits immediately following DORSCON Orange and Circuit Breaker. DORSCON Orange was associated with − 2020 mean daily visits (95% CI − 2890 to − 1150). Circuit Breaker was associated with a further − 2510 mean daily visits (95% CI − 3660 to − 1360). Primary care utilisation for acute visits remained below baseline levels even after the Circuit Breaker was lifted. These significant reductions were observed in both acute and chronic visits, with acute visits experiencing a steeper drop during DORSCON Orange. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 measures on primary care utilisation will be useful for future public health planning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f15d81ec95744c8b185a205222474eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f15d81ec95744c8b185a205222474eb2024-03-17T12:26:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-011411810.1038/s41598-024-57142-7Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysisVanessa Tan0Gregory Ang1Kelvin Bryan Tan2Cynthia Chen3Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health SystemSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health SystemSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health SystemSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health SystemAbstract Since the start of the pandemic, many national responses, such as nationwide lockdowns, have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. We aim to assess the impact of Singapore’s national responses on primary care utilisation. We performed an interrupted time series using acute and chronic primary care data of 3 168 578 visits between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 over four periods: before any measures were put in place, during Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) Orange, when Circuit Breaker was instituted, and when Circuit Breaker was lifted. We found significant mean reductions in acute and chronic primary care visits immediately following DORSCON Orange and Circuit Breaker. DORSCON Orange was associated with − 2020 mean daily visits (95% CI − 2890 to − 1150). Circuit Breaker was associated with a further − 2510 mean daily visits (95% CI − 3660 to − 1360). Primary care utilisation for acute visits remained below baseline levels even after the Circuit Breaker was lifted. These significant reductions were observed in both acute and chronic visits, with acute visits experiencing a steeper drop during DORSCON Orange. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 measures on primary care utilisation will be useful for future public health planning.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57142-7 |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Tan Gregory Ang Kelvin Bryan Tan Cynthia Chen Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis Scientific Reports |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 national response on primary care utilisation in Singapore: an interrupted time-series analysis |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 national response on primary care utilisation in singapore an interrupted time series analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57142-7 |
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