Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support people living with long COVID: a single-arm feasibility study.


ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support the health and well-being of people with long COVID.

Design

Single-group, repeated-measures feasibility study.

Setting

Community centre and online.

Participants

Adults with diagnosed long COVID experiencing breathlessness, pain and/or loneliness.

Intervention

Six-week participatory creative programme delivered to one online and one in-person group facilitated by movement, voice and drama consultants using breathing, visualisation, singing, poetry, storytelling and movement exercises.

Primary outcome measures

Programme acceptability and feasibility measured via uptake, reasons for non-attendance and barriers to engagement.

Secondary outcome measures

Feasibility of recruitment and data collection procedures measured through proportion of missing data and follow-up rates, mechanisms of action of the programme identified through qualitative interviews, changes in mental health, well-being, quality of life, loneliness, social support, fatigue, breathlessness and post-COVID-19 functional status at 8-week follow-up.

Results

21 people expressed interest in participating, 20 people took part in the programme, 19 completed baseline and 16 completed follow-up assessments. Participants attended an average of 4.8 of 6 sessions (SD=1.5, range 2-6). Exploratory analyses demonstrated significant improvements in self-rated health (t-test mean difference=0.12, 95% CI=0.00, 0.23, p=0.04) and chronic fatigue symptoms (mean difference=-3.50, 95% CI=-6.97, -0.03, p=0.05) at 8 weeks. Key mechanisms of action that supported health and well-being included: increased sense of community, illness acceptance, experiencing joy, increased confidence in managing everyday life, increased ability to relax and reconnection with previous identity. Barriers to engagement included: activities being outside of the participant's comfort zone, ongoing long COVID symptoms, emotional consequences of sharing experiences and connectivity and connecting online.

Conclusions

A 6-week theatre-based programme was perceived as acceptable to most participants and resulted in some positive psychosocial impacts. The findings provide a rationale for supporting the ongoing development and scale-up of this and related arts programmes to support people living with long COVID.

SUBMITTER: Burton A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11218014 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support people living with long COVID: a single-arm feasibility study.

Burton Alexandra A   Bone Jessica K JK   Lawrence-Lunniss Kate K   Philip Keir Ej KE  

BMJ open 20240701 6


<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support the health and well-being of people with long COVID.<h4>Design</h4>Single-group, repeated-measures feasibility study.<h4>Setting</h4>Community centre and online.<h4>Participants</h4>Adults with diagnosed long COVID experiencing breathlessness, pain and/or loneliness.<h4>Intervention</h4>Six-week participatory creative programme delivered to one online and one in-person group facilitated  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC10311870 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10160754 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8848667 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10841708 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10134320 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8045301 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7029274 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6934425 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9561070 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10579691 | biostudies-literature