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Manhas KP, Horlick S, Krysa J, Kovacs Burns K, Brehon K, Laur C, Papathanassoglou E, Ho C. Implementation of a Provincial Long COVID Care Pathway in Alberta, Canada: Provider Perceptions. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:730. [PMID: 38610152 PMCID: PMC11011656 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
A novel, complex chronic condition emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic: long COVID. The persistent long COVID symptoms can be multisystem and varied. Effective long COVID management requires multidisciplinary, collaborative models of care, which continue to be developed and refined. Alberta's provincial health system developed a novel long COVID pathway. We aimed to clarify the perspectives of multidisciplinary healthcare providers on the early implementation of the provincial long COVID pathway, particularly pathway acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and fidelity using Sandelowki's qualitative description. Provider participants were recruited from eight early-user sites from across the care continuum. Sites represented primary care (n = 4), outpatient rehabilitation (n = 3), and COVID-19 specialty clinics (n = 2). Participants participated in structured or semi-structured virtual interviews (both group and 1:1 were available). Structured interviews sought to clarify context, processes, and pathway use; semi-structured interviews targeted provider perceptions of pathway implementation, including barriers and facilitators. Analysis was guided by Hsieh and Shannon as well as Sandelowski. Across the eight sites that participated, five structured interviews (n = 13 participants) and seven semi-structured interviews (n = 15 participants) were completed. Sites represented primary care (n = 4), outpatient rehabilitation (n = 3), and COVID-19 specialty clinics (n = 2). Qualitative content analysis was used on transcripts and field notes. Provider perceptions of the early implementation outcomes of the provincial long COVID pathway revealed three key themes: process perceptions; awareness of patient educational resources; and challenges of evolving knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Pohar Manhas
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, 10301 Southport Lane SW, Calgary, AB T2W 1S7, Canada; (J.K.); (E.P.); (C.H.)
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Sidney Horlick
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; (S.H.); (K.K.B.)
| | - Jacqueline Krysa
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, 10301 Southport Lane SW, Calgary, AB T2W 1S7, Canada; (J.K.); (E.P.); (C.H.)
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
| | - Katharina Kovacs Burns
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; (S.H.); (K.K.B.)
- Department of Clinical Quality Metrics, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
| | - Katelyn Brehon
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
| | - Celia Laur
- Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada;
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Papathanassoglou
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, 10301 Southport Lane SW, Calgary, AB T2W 1S7, Canada; (J.K.); (E.P.); (C.H.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Chester Ho
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, 10301 Southport Lane SW, Calgary, AB T2W 1S7, Canada; (J.K.); (E.P.); (C.H.)
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
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Egger M, Vogelgesang L, Reitelbach J, Bergmann J, Müller F, Jahn K. Severe Post-COVID-19 Condition after Mild Infection: Physical and Mental Health Eight Months Post Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 21:21. [PMID: 38248486 PMCID: PMC10815598 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute COVID-19 infections requiring intensive care treatment are reported risk factors for the development of post-COVID-19 conditions. However, there are also individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 symptoms after mild infections. Therefore, we aimed to describe and compare the health status of patients who were initially not hospitalized and patients after critical illness due to COVID-19. The outcome measures included health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, visual analogue scale (VAS)); mental health (hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)); general disability (WHODAS-12); and fatigue (Fatigue-Severity-Scale-7). Individuals were recruited at Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Germany. A total of 52 non-hospitalized individuals (47 ± 15 years, 64% female, median 214 days post-infection) and 75 hospitalized individuals (61 ± 12 years, 29% female, 235 days post-infection) were analyzed. The non-hospitalized individuals had more fatigue (87%) and anxiety (69%) and a decreased health-related quality of life (VAS 47 ± 20) compared to the hospitalized persons (fatigue 45%, anxiety 43%, VAS 57 ± 21; p < 0.010). Severe disability was observed in one third of each group. A decreased quality of life and disability were more pronounced in the females of both groups. After adjusting for confounding, hospitalization did not predict the burden of symptoms. This indicates that persons with post-COVID-19 conditions require follow-up services and treatments, independent of the severity of the acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Egger
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Vogelgesang
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Judith Reitelbach
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Jeannine Bergmann
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Friedemann Müller
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Klaus Jahn
- Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany
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Horlick S, Krysa JA, Brehon K, Pohar Manhas K, Kovacs Burns K, Russell K, Papathanassoglou E, Gross DP, Ho C. Exploring Rehabilitation Provider Experiences of Providing Health Services for People Living with Long COVID in Alberta. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7176. [PMID: 38131727 PMCID: PMC10743286 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20247176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 infection can result in persistent symptoms, known as long COVID. Understanding the provider experience of service provision for people with long COVID symptoms is crucial for improving care quality and addressing potential challenges. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the provider experience of long COVID service delivery. AIM To explore the provider experience of delivering health services to people living with long COVID at select primary, rehabilitation, and specialty care sites. DESIGN AND SETTING This study employed qualitative description methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with frontline providers at primary care, rehabilitation, and specialty care sites across Alberta. Participants were interviewed between June and September 2022. METHOD Interviews were conducted virtually over zoom, audio-recorded, and transcribed with consent. Iterative inductive qualitative content analysis of transcripts was employed. Relationships between emergent themes were examined for causality or reciprocity, then clustered into content areas and further abstracted into a priori categories through their interpretive joint meaning. PARTICIPANTS A total of 15 participants across Alberta representing diverse health care disciplines were interviewed. RESULTS Main themes include: the importance of education for long COVID recognition; the role of symptom acknowledgement in patient-centred long COVID service delivery; the need to develop recovery expectations; and opportunities for improvement of navigation and wayfinding to long COVID services. CONCLUSIONS Provider experience of delivering long COVID care can be used to inform patient-centred service delivery for persons with long COVID symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidney Horlick
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Jacqueline A. Krysa
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Katelyn Brehon
- Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada; (K.B.); (D.P.G.)
| | - Kiran Pohar Manhas
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Katharina Kovacs Burns
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada;
- Department of Clinical Quality Metrics, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
| | - Kristine Russell
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
| | - Elizabeth Papathanassoglou
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Douglas P. Gross
- Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada; (K.B.); (D.P.G.)
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
| | - Chester Ho
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (J.A.K.); (K.P.M.); (K.R.); (E.P.)
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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Krysa JA, Horlick S, Pohar Manhas K, Kovacs Burns K, Buell M, Santana MJ, Russell K, Papathanassoglou E, Ho C. Accessing Care Services for Long COVID Sufferers in Alberta, Canada: A Random, Cross-Sectional Survey Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6457. [PMID: 37569003 PMCID: PMC10419146 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Designing appropriate rehabilitation programs for long COVID-19 remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to explore the patient experience of accessing long COVID-19 rehabilitation and recovery services. In this cross-sectional, observational study, a telephone survey was administered to a random sample of persons with long COVID-19 in a Canadian province. Participants included adults who tested positive for COVID-19 between March and October 2021. Survey respondents (n = 330) included individuals who had been previously hospitalized for COVID-19 (n = 165) and those who had not been hospitalized ('non-hospitalized') for COVID-19 (n = 165). Significantly more previously hospitalized respondents visited a family doctor for long COVID-19 symptoms compared to non-hospitalized respondents (hospitalized: n = 109 (66.1%); non-hospitalized: n = 25 (15.2%); (p < 0.0001)). Previously hospitalized respondents reported significantly more referrals to specialty healthcare providers for long COVID-19 sym`ptoms (hospitalized: n = 45 (27.3%); non-hospitalized: n = 6 (3.6%); (p < 0.001)). A comparable number of respondents in both groups accessed care services that did not require a referral to manage their long COVID-19 symptoms (hospitalized: n = 31 (18.8%); non-hospitalized: n = 20 (12.1%); (p = 0.20)). These findings demonstrate the diversity of recovery services used by individuals with long COVID-19 and emphasize the need for multidisciplinary long COVID-19 rehabilitation and recovery care pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A. Krysa
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Sidney Horlick
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kiran Pohar Manhas
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Katharina Kovacs Burns
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Department of Clinical Quality Metrics, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
| | - Mikayla Buell
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Maria J. Santana
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Kristine Russell
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
| | - Elizabeth Papathanassoglou
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Chester Ho
- Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, and Vision Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada (M.B.); (K.R.)
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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