Candela Agustina Loza1, German Baez2, Rodrigo Valverdi3, Pedro Pisula4, Julieta Salas Apaza5, Vilda Discacciati6, Mariano Granero7, Ximena Salomé Pizzorno8, Juan Víctor Ariel Franco9. 1. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0003-4553-2206. 2. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0002-6175-1487. 3. Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0002-6492-2368. 4. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0002-0128-5429. 5. Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0002-3956-0617. 6. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0001-8718-0910. 7. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ORCID: 0000-0001-8440-4202. 8. Investigadora Independiente. ORCID: 0000-0002-5195-060X. 9. Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Adress: Potosí 4265, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1199. Email: juan.franco@hospitalitaliano.org.ar. ORCID: 0000-0003-0411-899X.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: On March 19, 2020, a mandatory lockdown was imposed in Argentina due to the global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. OBJECTIVES: To explore the elderlys healthcare experiences during the lockdown and the problems that may have arisen regarding accessibility to the healthcare system and emerging adaptations to medical care. METHODS: We coded the data using Atlas.ti 8 software and then triangled the analysis among researchers from different backgrounds. Finally, concept maps were developed and themes arising from these were described. RESULTS: Thirty-nine participants were interviewed from the metropolitan area in Buenos Aires from April to July of 2020. The main emerging themes were: 1) access to regularly scheduled consults, 2) access to chronic medication, 3) emergency consultations, and 4) the role of information and communication technologies. Accessibility to the healthcare system was compromised due to reduced outpatient consultations, affecting health checkups, diagnosis, and treatment. However, participants tried to keep their immunizations up to date. Information and communication technologies were used to fill digital prescriptions and online medical consultations. While this was a solution to many, others did not have access to these technologies or had trouble using them. CONCLUSIONS: The global pandemic caused a reduction in outpatient medical consultations. Emerging needs originated new ways of carrying out medical consultations, mainly through information and communication technologies, which was a solution for many but led to the exclusion of others because of the preexisting technology gap.
INTRODUCTION: On March 19, 2020, a mandatory lockdown was imposed in Argentina due to the global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. OBJECTIVES: To explore the elderlys healthcare experiences during the lockdown and the problems that may have arisen regarding accessibility to the healthcare system and emerging adaptations to medical care. METHODS: We coded the data using Atlas.ti 8 software and then triangled the analysis among researchers from different backgrounds. Finally, concept maps were developed and themes arising from these were described. RESULTS: Thirty-nine participants were interviewed from the metropolitan area in Buenos Aires from April to July of 2020. The main emerging themes were: 1) access to regularly scheduled consults, 2) access to chronic medication, 3) emergency consultations, and 4) the role of information and communication technologies. Accessibility to the healthcare system was compromised due to reduced outpatient consultations, affecting health checkups, diagnosis, and treatment. However, participants tried to keep their immunizations up to date. Information and communication technologies were used to fill digital prescriptions and online medical consultations. While this was a solution to many, others did not have access to these technologies or had trouble using them. CONCLUSIONS: The global pandemic caused a reduction in outpatient medical consultations. Emerging needs originated new ways of carrying out medical consultations, mainly through information and communication technologies, which was a solution for many but led to the exclusion of others because of the preexisting technology gap.
Entities:
Keywords:
health care access; health care system; information and communication technologies; COVID-19