Dataset Information

Lived experience of patients with Long COVID: a qualitative study in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long COVID is a rapidly evolving global health crisis requiring interdisciplinary support strategies that incorporate the lived experience of patients. Currently, there is a paucity of research documenting the day-to-day experiences of patients living with Long COVID.

Objective

To explore the lived experience of Long COVID patients.

Study design

Longitudinal, observation study.

Setting

An inductive, data-driven, qualitative approach was used to evaluate hand-written diaries obtained from individuals who had been referred to a Derbyshire Long COVID clinic.

Participants

12 participants (11 females, age 49±10 years, 11 Caucasians) were recruited. Participants were included if they had a previous confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection with ongoing recovery, >18 years old, understood the study requirements and provided informed consent.

Method

Participants were directed to complete self-report diaries over 16 weeks. Responses were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three key themes were highlighted: (1) understanding who helps patients manage symptoms, (2) daily activities and the impact on quality of life and health status and (3) the effect of turbulent and episodic symptom profiles on personal identity and recovery.

Conclusions

The novel challenges presented by Long COVID are complex with varying inter-related factors that are broadly impacting functional status and quality of life. Support mechanisms must incorporate the lived experiences and foster true collaborations between health professionals, patients and researchers to improve patient outcomes.

Trial registration number

NCT04649957.

SUBMITTER: Thomas C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10151237 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Lived experience of patients with Long COVID: a qualitative study in the UK.

Thomas Callum C Faghy Mark A MA Owen Rebecca R Yates James J Ferraro Francesco F Bewick Tom T Haggan Kate K Ashton Ruth E M REM

BMJ open 20230426 4

<h4>Background</h4>Long COVID is a rapidly evolving global health crisis requiring interdisciplinary support strategies that incorporate the lived experience of patients. Currently, there is a paucity of research documenting the day-to-day experiences of patients living with Long COVID.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore the lived experience of Long COVID patients.<h4>Study design</h4>Longitudinal, observation study.<h4>Setting</h4>An inductive, data-driven, qualitative approach was used to evaluate ha ...[more]

PMID: 37185640

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Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the lived experience of Jordanian front-line healthcare workers (FHCWs), including their experienced challenges and adaptations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignA phenomenological qualitative design was used to highlight the experiences of a sample Jordanian FHCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative interviews were conducted using a semistructured guide with open-ended questions, audiotaped and then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of the transcribed narratives was conducted using an open coding line by line to develop themes and related subthemes.SettingMobile COVID-19 testing and contact tracing units during an active surge of cases in Jordan between May and September 2020.ParticipantsParticipants were recruited using purposive sampling method and consisted of 15 FHCWs (2 physicians, 10 nurses, 2 paramedics and 1 laboratory technician) who have worked in testing and contact tracing teams in the community and have dealt with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.ResultsParticipant narratives were classified into two main overarching themes; challenges and adaptation themes. The challenges theme was exhibited as follows: (1) an excruciating encounter with an invisible enemy, (2) distorted knowledge about COVID-19 and (3) organisational and administrative challenges. The adaptation theme was exhibited as follows: (1) seeking relevant knowledge about the disease and (2) seeking more connectedness.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic exerted many challenges for FHCWs at multiple levels; intrapersonal and interpersonal, organisational and societal levels. Nevertheless, a number of adaptation strategies within these levels have been reported. This study helps to provide the base on which healthcare officials and public health personnel can formulate preparedness plans that tackle challenges faced by front-line workers, which ultimately enhance the resilience of healthcare systems to withstand future pandemics.

Dataset Information

Lived experience of patients with Long COVID: a qualitative study in the UK.

Background

Objective

Study design

Setting

Participants

Method

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration number

Publications

Lived experience of patients with Long COVID: a qualitative study in the UK.

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