Enhancing long COVID care in general practice: a qualitative study.

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2024 - Bristol

Talk Code:

2C.1

Presenter:

John Broughan

Twitter:

@broughan_john

Co-authors:

John Broughan J1, Emīls Sietiņš2, Ka Yuet Emily Siu2, Nia Clendennen2, 3, Claire Collins4, 5, Ronan Fawsitt2,6,7, John S Lambert2,8,9, Stefano Savinelli2,10, Stephanie Skeffington2, Geoff McCombe2, Walter Cullen2.

Author institutions:

1 Clinical Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 2School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 3 The Coombe Family Practice, Dublin, Ireland. 4 Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin, Ireland. 5 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium. 6Castle Garde

Problem

Research suggests that general practice can play an important role in managing long COVID. However, studies investigating the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and patients are lacking and knowledge regarding optimal long COVID care in general practice is therefore limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of GPs and patients on the topic of long COVID and its management in general practice.

Approach

A qualitative research design was used and was guided by the ‘Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations’ (SRQR). Brief questionnaires (GP n = 11, Patient n = 7) and in-depth semi-structured interviews (GP n = 10, Patient n = 7) were conducted with GPs and patients from Irish general practices during July 2022-January 2023. Interviews were conducted via telephone and audio recordings were transcribed. A phenomenological analysis involving reflexive thematic analysis and constant comparison techniques was adopted.

Findings

GPs and patients indicated that structured, integrated, and collaborative care can help optimise long COVID management in general practice. Future research examining stakeholder’s perspectives using larger and longitudinal samples is advised to enhance the generalisability of evidence in this area.

Consequences

The study’s findings demonstrate the value of continued research in this area. Studies focusing on GP interventions to enhance long COVID diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, as well as patient experiences, are recommended. Studies with larger and / or longitudinal samples are also advised, as are studies focusing on individual stakeholder groups’ priority concerns (e.g., GP long Covid assessment, patient self-management of symptoms). The findings also highlight the need for focused long COVID care policies, and physician readers may benefit from by incorporating recommended interventions into their routine long COVID care practices.

Submitted by:

John Broughan

Funding acknowledgement:

We would like to thank the Health Research Board, the Ireland East Hospital Group, the UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences/School of Medicine and this study’s participants for the important roles that they played in making this research project happen.