Effect of online peer support on mental health among patients of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review

Abstract

Abstract Background Psychosocial burdens of the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are an emerging public health concern. Online peer support is expected to be effective in improving the mental health of PASC patients. However, the effectiveness of these treatments remains unclear. This study investigated the effectiveness of online peer support for improving the mental health of PASC patients. Methods We searched the MEDLINE, PsycINFO/PsycArticles, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society electronic databases for studies on June 12, 2023. The inclusion criteria for studies were as follows: 1) patients with post-COVID-19 conditions over 18 years of age; 2) conducted online peer support exposure or intervention; 3) measured mental health-related outcomes using quantity scales; and 4) peer-reviewed original articles written in English or Japanese. We excluded qualitative studies that did not use quantitative scales to measure outcomes and original peer-reviewed articles. We conducted risk of bias assessments with the Risk of Bias Assessment instrument designed for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Results A total of 157 studies were retrieved, and two met the inclusion criteria. The total numbers of participants in the two studies were 239 and 47, respectively. One was a cohort study, and the other was a pre-post study; neither had a control group. Most participants in both studies were middle-aged women or female from high-income European countries. Exposure or intervention included sharing sources of support (e.g., experiences, knowledge, and expertise) and peer support combined with workshops for the self-management of physical and mental health facilitated by trained medical experts. The effectiveness of online peer support on mental health outcomes was also assessed. Two studies reported significant improvements in work productivity, functional status, quality of life, self-efficacy, and well-being. Both studies were rated as high or unclear in most risk-of-bias domains. No meta-analysis was performed because of the small number of included studies. Conclusions Few studies examine online peer support for improving mental health-related outcomes among PASC patients, and evidence of its effectiveness is unclear. Well-designed studies are required to conduct meta-analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of online peer support for PASC patients.