From Perceptions to Perspectives: Assessing Greek Healthcare Professionals’ Viewpoint Toward Home-based Primary Care

Abstract

Mobile vaccination units administered COVID-19 vaccines to homebound populations in Greece. This study explores the perspectives of public healthcare providers involved in the COVID-19 home vaccination program, aiming to identify challenges and propose improvements in the delivery of healthcare services at home. This study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design and was conducted within public Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities. It utilized a questionnaire consisting of both closed- and open-ended questions. The study population included healthcare professionals and administrative staff involved in vaccination units. Data were collected from April to July 2022 and analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The integration of both data types enhanced the depth and reliability of the findings. Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Bioethics Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Twelve hundred participants from 168 facilities across six Health Districts responded. The majority were nurses (34.1%) and general practitioners (24.7%). Participants overwhelmingly praised the concept of home-based care, aligning it with PHC, and expressed readiness for future involvement, despite time constraints. Four main themes emerged from the thematic analysis of 1,072 text responses. Challenges in providing such services included difficulties in balancing home care with existing workload, addressing understaffing, and achieving effective time management to prevent staff burnout and service disruptions. Participants’ experiences in the national COVID-19 home vaccination project highlight their positive attitudes toward home care while also underscoring several potential challenges in organizing similar home-based services.