Impact of Socioeconomic Status on the Perception of Accessibility to and Quality of Healthcare Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Poles—Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study was conducted on the reported hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had an impact on the accessibility and quality of healthcare services and exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities. The aim was to determine whether economic status and education had an impact on the perception of access and quality to healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether, according to patients, accessibility and quality had changed significantly compared to the pre-pandemic period in Poland. The study was based on the authors’ questionnaire and the results were statistically analyzed. Two hundred forty-seven feedback responses were received with a responsiveness rate of 93 percent. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing education level and utilization of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison of gender and economic situation, and average monthly income found no statistically significant differences. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected the provision of health services in many countries around the world. One result of the pandemic crisis has been widening socioeconomic inequalities among patients.

Healthcare Challenges due to Global Conflict Escalation Amid the Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Dilemmas

“…Globally, 3.3 billion people, which constitutes 81% of the world's workforce, were affected by the lockdown, and the world incurred a loss of 9% of global working hours, followed by 4.4% of the global GDP in lost labor incomes (Moyer et al, 2022). Economically and socially disadvantaged populations were twice as likely to present with COVID-19 symptoms to the emergency department and were more likely to require re-hospitalization within 30 days of discharge (Tuczyńska et al, 2022). During the pandemic, child marriage, gender-based or domestic violence increased; routine health services were jeopardized; and routine vaccinations were halted for 80 million children in 70 countries (Dhaliwal et al, 2022) (Figure 4).…”

Global conflict escalation during the pandemic, climate, and economic dilemmas: Healthcare sustainability challenges in conflict zones and elsewhere

“…Globally, 3.3 billion people, which constitutes 81% of the world's workforce, were affected by the lockdown, and the world incurred a loss of 9% of global working hours, followed by 4.4% of the global GDP in lost labor incomes (Moyer et al, 2022) (Appendix E). Economically and socially disadvantaged populations were twice as likely to present with COVID-19 symptoms to the emergency department and were more likely to require re-hospitalization within 30 days of discharge (Tuczyńska et al, 2022). During the pandemic, child marriage, gender-based or domestic violence increased; routine health services were jeopardized; and routine vaccinations were halted for 80 million children in 70 countries (Dhaliwal et al, 2022) (Figure 5).…”

Global Health Issues With Conflict Escalation Among Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Crises

“…Globally, 3.3 billion people, which constitutes 81% of the world's workforce, were affected by the lockdown, and the world incurred a loss of 9% of global working hours, followed by 4.4% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) in lost labor incomes [47]. Economically and socially disadvantaged populations were twice as likely to present with COVID-19 symptoms to the emergency department and were more likely to require re-hospitalization within 30 days of discharge [48]. During the pandemic, child marriage, gender-based, or domestic violence increased; routine health services were jeopardized; and routine vaccinations were halted for 80 million children in 70 countries (Fig.…”