Development and Validation of a Mobile Application as an Adjuvant Treatment for People Diagnosed with Long COVID-19: Protocol for a Co-Creation Study of a Health Asset and an Analysis of Its Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 27;20(1):462. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010462.

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the overall effectiveness and cost-efficiency of a mobile application (APP) as a community health asset (HA) with recommendations and recovery exercises created bearing in mind the main symptoms presented by patients in order to improve their quality of life, as well as other secondary variables, such as the number and severity of ongoing symptoms, physical and cognitive functions, affective state, and sleep quality.

Methods: The first step was to design and develop the technologic community resource, the APP, following the steps involved in the process of recommending health assets (RHA). After this, a protocol of a randomised clinical trial for analysing its effectiveness and cost-efficiency as a HA was developed. The participants will be assigned to: (1st) usual treatment by the primary care practitioner (TAU), as a control group; and (2nd) TAU + use of the APP as a HA and adjuvant treatment in their recovery + three motivational interviews (MI), as an interventional group. An evaluation will be carried out at baseline with further assessments three and six months following the end of the intervention.

Discussion: Although research and care for these patients are still in their initial stages, it is necessary to equip patients and health care practitioners with tools to assist in their recovery. Furthermore, enhanced motivation can be achieved through telerehabilitation (TR).

Keywords: APP; co-creation; cost-efficiency; effectiveness; health asset; long COVID-19; primary health care.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial Protocol
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Humans
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Grants and funding

This work is supported by Carlos III Health Institute, grant number PI21/01356, FEDER Funds ‘Another way to make Europe’. The funding body will conduct an audit trial once a year.