A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Virtual Rehabilitation Program for Self-Management in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (Long COVID)

Thuvia Flannery, Hannah Brady-Sawant, Rachel Tarrant, Jennifer Davison, Jenna Shardha, Stephen Halpin, Manoj Sivan and Denise Ross ()
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Thuvia Flannery: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Hannah Brady-Sawant: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Rachel Tarrant: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Jennifer Davison: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Jenna Shardha: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Stephen Halpin: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Manoj Sivan: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK
Denise Ross: Leeds Long COVID Rehabilitation Department, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, Leeds LS12 5SG, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: Long COVID (LC) symptoms can be long standing, diverse and debilitating; comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs are required to address this. A 10-week LC Virtual Rehabilitation Program (VRP) was developed to provide early education and self-management techniques to address the main symptoms of LC and was delivered to a group of persons with Long COVID (PwLC) online, facilitated by members of the multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team. This paper describes an evaluation of this VRP. Questionnaires completed by Healthcare Professionals (HCP) delivering the VRP were thematically analyzed to gain a priori themes and design semi-structured telephone interview questions for PwLC. Template analysis (TA) was used to analyze interview data. Routinely collected patient demographics and service data were also examined. Seventeen HCP survey responses were obtained and 38 PwLC telephone questionnaires were completed. The HCP interviews generated three a priori themes (1. Attendance and Availability, 2. Content, 3. Use of Digital Technology). TA was applied and three further themes emerged from the combined HCP and PwLC responses (4. Group Dynamics, 5. Individual Factors, 6. Internal Change). Key outcomes demonstrated that: the VRP was highly valued; digital delivery enabled self-management; barriers to attendance included work/life balance, use of technology, health inequalities; and LC was poorly understood by employers. Recommendations are provided for the design of VRPs for LC.

Keywords: virtual course; SARS-CoV-2 virus; post-acute sequalae of COVID-19; digital technology; Multi-Disciplinary Team; Template Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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