Burden Associated with Telephone Calls on COVID-19: Results of a Flash Mob Study in Family Practices.

Background Family practices are the primary contact for inquiries relating to COVID-19. This study reveals the reasons why German family practices are called during the pandemic and which burden is associated with patients' inquiries related to COVID-19 among practice assistants (PAs). Methods On April 28, 2021 a cross-sectional flash mob study was conducted in family practices across Germany. The study material and invitation were disseminated via social media and postal or electronic mails. During half a day, participating practices counted every incoming call. For calls addressing COVID-19, the reason, duration, and perceived stress level were documented. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed using SPSS. Results 5,646 calls, 1,826 of which were related to COVID-19 (32.3 %), were documented by 73 practices (practice average: 25.0 ± 17.7) within a single Wednesday morning. Most calls addressed vaccination (n = 1,050, 59.0 %). During 22.0 % (n = 388) of COVID-19-related calls, PAs felt stressed, which was mainly influenced by the call duration (calls of 5 minutes and longer were perceived significantly more stressful [OR 8.94, 95 % CI 6.47--12.37]). Feeling well-prepared to meet patients' inquiries relating to COVID-19 was a protective factor for the average stress perceived per PA. Overall, less than 10 % of calls on COVID-19 were transferred to a physician. Conclusions Family practice teams experience a high volume of partly stressful phone calls about COVID-19 but are often able to handle the pandemic challenges. PAs play a central role in advising the practice population on issues related to COVID-19. This deserves greater recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]