A Family Doctor’s Clinical-Epidemiological Diary in Spain of the Times of Covid-19. February 24 to March 15: Is Covid-19 A Lottery?

Authors: Turabian JL*

Special Issue 1

Abstract

Since outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in late December in China, there are many scientific articles that have been published about this virus. However, data and qualitative research are lacking. In this sense, a diary written by a family doctor in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic is presented, which can constitute a qualitative clinical-epidemiological database and a tool to estimate effects. The diaries are not only a literary variant, but can be a method of qualitative and quantitative research, as well as reflection. Here will be presented, in several chapters, the first-person account of the work experience of a family doctor, who for clinical and epidemiological purposes resembles the naturalist and ethnographer, carrying his “field notebook.” It may be that experience may not be like being in the hospital emergency room or wards or in Intensive Care Units. His practice is in a health center in Toledo (capital of Castilla La Mancha, Spain), with a surgery that has a list of 2000 patients over the age of 14, and he treats an average of 30-35 patients every day in 8-hour work days. But, of course, that was under normal circumstances, before the times of COVID-19. This is “Chapter 1 (from February 24 to march 15): is COVID-19 a lottery?”, that collects the annotations of the beginning of the outbreak which was believed impossible that a problem of medical interest in Spain would become.

Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; General Practice; Epidemiology; Reflection; Diary Method; Professional Self-Insight; Qualitative Research

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