‘It’s Not COVID, You’re fine’: Reflections on Unsatisfactory Primary Care for Non-Pandemic Concerns

This study addresses unsatisfactory care, or dissatisfaction with care, during and after peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unsatisfactory care includes communication barriers, shortage of health care resources, ambivalence over risk modification, changes in care provider accessibility, voluntary or involuntary care avoidance and delayed care. Data were collected through online interviews (n = 13) followed by qualitative thematic analysis. Findings included: Dismissal; Isolation & abandonment, and Distrust of the medical system. This study sheds light on the ways in which risk perceptions shape health-related behavior across populations. The COVID-19 pandemic placed tremendous stress on health systems, providers and patients. Patients with non-COVID care needs were forced to come to terms with delayed and unsatisfactory care, and some endured having their health concerns met with dismissive attitudes, feelings of isolation and abandonment, and experiences that exacerbated distrust in, and may have long-term negative effects on, the patient-provider relationship.