Self-managing symptoms of Long COVID: an education and strategies research protocol

Julia Rybkina; Nithin Jacob; Brenda Colella; David Gold; Donna E Stewart; Lesley A Ruttan; Liesel-Ann C Meusel; Mary P McAndrews; Susan Abbey; Robin Green

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1106578

Self-managing symptoms of Long COVID: an education and strategies research protocol

Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 7:12:1106578. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1106578. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Telerehab Centre for Acquired Brain Injury, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Krembil Brain Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ University of Toronto, Centre for Mental Health and Senior Scientist, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ University of Toronto Scarborough, Neuro-Rehab Program, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Krembil Research Institute, University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁷ Medical Psychiatry and Psychiatry and Psychosocial Oncology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences and Clinical Translation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-COV-2 (PASC) is growing in prevalence, and involves symptoms originating from the central neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, autonomic nervous, or immune systems. There are non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and brain fog, which cannot be ascribed to a single system. PASC places a notable strain on our healthcare system, which is already laden with a large number of acute-COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, it impedes social, academic and vocational functioning, and impacts family life, relationships, and work/financial life. The treatment for PASC needs to target this non-specific etiology and wide-ranging sequelae. In conditions similar to PASC, such as "chemo brain," and prolonged symptoms of concussion, the non-specific symptoms have shown to be effectively managed through education and strategies for self-management and Mindfulness interventions. However, such interventions have yet to be empirically evaluated in PASC to our knowledge. In response to this gap, we have developed a virtual education intervention synthesized by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists for the current study. We will undertake a two-phase randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility (Phase 1; N = 90) and efficacy (Phase 2; sample sized based on phase 1 results) of the novel 8 week Education and Self-Management Strategies group compared to a mindfulness skills program, both delivered virtually. Main outcomes include confidence/ability to self-manage symptoms, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. This study stands to mitigate the deleterious intrusiveness of symptoms on everyday life in patients with PASC, and may also help to reduce the impact of PASC on the healthcare system. Clinical trial registration:https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05268523; identifier NCT05268523.

Keywords: COVID-19; Long COVID; intervention; rehabilitation; self-management.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
Disease Progression
Humans
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Quality of Life
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
SARS-CoV-2
Self-Management*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05268523

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant - Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities funding opportunity (Funding Reference Number GA4 177750) and Cass Family Grants for Catalyzing Access and Change. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the donor funding received by The Walter and Maria Schroeder Foundation and The Joseph & Antoinette Sorbara Foundation in support of this project.