Abstract
An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) can provide a window into the latent dimensions of a disease, such as Long COVID. Discovering the latent factors of Long COVID enables researchers and clinicians to better conceptualize, study and treat this disease. In this study, participants were recruited from social media sites dedicated to COVID and Long COVID. Among the 480 participants, those who completed at least 90% of the survey, reported symptoms for two or more months since COVID-19 symptom onset, and had not been hospitalized for COVID were used in the EFA. The mean duration since initial symptom onset was 74.0 (37.3) weeks. A new questionnaire called The DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-COVID was used to assess self-reports of the frequency and severity of 38 Long COVID symptoms experienced over the most recent month. The most burdensome symptoms were “Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities (also known as Post-Exertional Malaise),” “Fatigue/extreme tiredness,” “Difficulty thinking and/or concentrating,” “Sleep problems,” and “Muscle aches.” The EFA resulted in a three-factor model with factors labeled General, PEM/Fatigue/Cognitive Dysfunction, and Psychological, consisting of 16, 6, and 3 items respectively (25 items in total). The reliability of the items in the EFA was .90 using a split-half reliability test. Finally, participant self-reported level of functional impairment was analyzed across the three EFA factors. Interpretations and applications to research and practice are provided.
Publisher
South Kazakhstan Medical Academy
Reference45 articles.
1. A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus. [Updated 2021]. [Accessed September 13, 2022].
2. Alwan AN. A negative COVID-19 test does not mean recovery. Nature 2020;584(170).
3. Very, very mild: Covid-19 symptoms and illness classification. [Updated 2020]. [Accessed October 5, 2022].
4. Ludwik Fleck where are you now that we need you? Covid-19 and the genesis of epidemiological facts? [Updated 2020]. [Accessed 01 October 2022].
5. The tragedy of the post-COVID long haulers. [Updated 2021]. [Accessed 01 October 2022].
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献