School of Health Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
NMAHP Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
BMJ Open. 2024 May 15;14(5):e082830. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082830.
To explore the experience of accessing Long COVID community rehabilitation from the perspectives of people with Long COVID and general practitioners (GPs).
Qualitative descriptive study employing one-to-one semistructured virtual interviews analysed using the framework method.
Four National Health Service Scotland territorial health boards.
11 people with Long COVID (1 male, 10 female; aged 40-65 (mean 53) and 13 GPs (5 male, 8 female).
Four key themes were identified: (1) The lived experience of Long COVID, describing the negative impact of Long COVID on participants' health and quality of life; (2) The challenges of an emergent and complex chronic condition, including uncertainties related to diagnosis and management; (3) Systemic challenges for Long COVID service delivery, including lack of clear pathways for access and referral, siloed services, limited resource and a perceived lack of holistic care, and (4) Perceptions and experiences of Long COVID and its management, including rehabilitation. In this theme, a lack of knowledge by GPs and people with Long COVID on the potential role of community rehabilitation for Long COVID was identified. Having prior knowledge of rehabilitation or being a healthcare professional appeared to facilitate access to community rehabilitation. Finally, people with Long COVID who had received rehabilitation had generally found it beneficial.
There are several patient, GP and service-level barriers to accessing community rehabilitation for Long COVID. There is a need for greater understanding by the public, GPs and other potential referrers of the role of community rehabilitation professionals in the management of Long COVID. There is also a need for community rehabilitation services to be well promoted and accessible to the people with Long COVID for whom they may be appropriate. The findings of this study can be used by those (re)designing community rehabilitation services for people with Long COVID.
从长期新冠患者和全科医生的角度探讨获取长期新冠社区康复的体验。
采用一对一半结构化虚拟访谈的定性描述研究，采用框架方法进行分析。
苏格兰国民保健系统的四个地区卫生委员会。
11 名长期新冠患者（1 名男性，10 名女性；年龄 40-65 岁（平均 53 岁）和 13 名全科医生（5 名男性，8 名女性）。
确定了四个关键主题：（1）长期新冠的生活体验，描述了长期新冠对参与者健康和生活质量的负面影响；（2）新兴和复杂慢性疾病的挑战，包括与诊断和管理相关的不确定性；（3）长期新冠服务提供的系统挑战，包括缺乏明确的准入和转诊途径、服务分散、资源有限以及缺乏整体护理，以及（4）对长期新冠及其管理的看法和体验，包括康复。在这个主题中，发现全科医生和长期新冠患者对社区康复对长期新冠的潜在作用缺乏了解。对康复有先验知识或本身是医疗保健专业人员似乎有助于获得社区康复。最后，接受过康复的长期新冠患者普遍认为康复有益。
长期新冠患者获得社区康复存在一些患者、全科医生和服务层面的障碍。公众、全科医生和其他潜在转介者需要更好地了解社区康复专业人员在长期新冠管理中的作用。还需要更好地宣传和提供社区康复服务，以满足可能适合的长期新冠患者。本研究的结果可用于为长期新冠患者设计（重新）社区康复服务的人员使用。
