“I Had to Know About It, I Had to Find It, I Had to Know How to Access it”: Experiences of Access to Rehabilitation Services Among People Living with Long COVID

Author:

Hung Pam1,Brehon Katelyn1,Miciak Maxi1,Brown Darren A.2,Bostick Geoffrey3,Brown Cary4,Churchill Katie5,Hall Mark3,Hoddinott Lance6,Hudon Anne7,Hunter Simone8,Perreault Kadija9,Wieler Marguerite3,Skolnik Kate10,Lam Grace Y.11,Weatherald Jason11,Gross Douglas P.13

Affiliation:

1. From the: Rehabilitation Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

2. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

4. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

5. University Health Network – Rehabilitative Care Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

6. Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

7. School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM), and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-Montréal Quebec, Canada

8. BreatheWell Physiotherapy, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

9. École des Sciences de la Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval and Centre for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration (Cirris), CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada

10. Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

11. Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry – Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this qualitative study is to understand the need for, access to, and quality of rehabilitation services for people living with Long COVID. Little is known about the experiences of people living with Long COVID accessing rehabilitation services. Therefore, we explored health concerns leading people living with Long COVID to seek help to address functional concerns and their experiences with accessing and participating in rehabilitation. Method: Interpretive description guided exploration of participants’ experiences with Long COVID rehabilitation in Alberta, Canada. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 56 participants recruited from: three publicly funded Long COVID clinics, a specialized private physiotherapy clinic, a telephone-based rehabilitation advice line, and a Workers’ Compensation Board-funded Long COVID rehabilitation program. Recruitment through mass media coverage allowed us to include people who did not access rehabilitation services. Data analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) the burden of searching for guidance to address challenges with functioning and disability; (2) supportive relationships promote engagement in rehabilitation; (3) conditions for participation in safe rehabilitation; and (4) looking forward – provision of appropriate interventions at the right time. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the experiences of accessing rehabilitation services for people living with Long COVID. Results suggest approaches to Long COVID rehabilitation should be accessible, multi-disciplinary, flexible, and person-centred.

Publisher

University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress)

Subject

Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Reference59 articles.

1. World Health Organization. Post COVID-19 condition (Long COVID); 2023 [cited 2023 June 28]. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition.

2. Statistics Canada. Long-term symptoms in Canadian adults who tested positive for COVID-19 or suspected an infection, January 2020 to August 2022; 2022. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221017/dq221017b-eng.htm.

3. How and why patients made Long Covid

4. Patient-Led Research Collaborative: embedding patients in the Long COVID narrative

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