Journal Article

P26 Feasibility of a community-based education and physical therapy programme to improve symptoms of long COVID-19

Potthoff, S, Hettinga, F, Haighton, K, Armstrong, M, Hogg, MJ, Court, P, Unsworth, J, Glennie, J, Barakou, I, Vogiatzis, I, Megaritis, D, Burns, G, Ball, M

2023

Overview

AimThis feasibility trial examined the acceptability of a community-based COVID-19 education and physical therapy programme for improving the symptomology of individuals with Long COVID-19.MethodsA sample of 22 individuals (age: 46±16, male: 12 & female: 10), 11±4 months since initial infection with Long COVID-19 symptoms (persisting for ≥12 weeks) participated in a 6-week physical therapy & community-based education programme. Participants were provided with guidance for the management of their health, lifestyle, symptomology and physical activity through weekly group-based in-person sessions and telephone consultations. Post-intervention qualitative data was also collected- from both completing and non-completing participants- to assess factors determining their programme compliance.ResultsHigh adherence to both the community-based sessions and telephone consultations was achieved. Physical therapy sessions were deemed safe, with only mild exertional symptoms observed for the 17/22 completers during the programme. Reasons for non-completion included ‘symptom exertion’ and ‘concerns for contracting COVID-19’. Repeated-measures T-test analyses demonstrated meaningful improvements in participants’ fatigue (Chalder Fatigue scale & FACIT-F) and respiratory (CAT) symptomology post-intervention [table 1]. Participants’ qualitative feedback praised the programme for enhancing their confidence and readiness for resuming activities of daily living, in addition to its feasible and enjoyable delivery style.Abstract P26 Table 1Means±St.Dev & p-values for symptoms of fatigue and respiratory symptoms Baseline Completion P CFS (Bimodel) 8±3 6±4 0.018* CFS (Likert) 23±7 19±7 0.007* FACIT-F 19±10 23±10 0.005* CAT 23±7 21±7 0.068 * Significant at α = .05; CFS: Chalder Fatigue Scale; CAT: COPD Assessment TestConclusionThe feasibility of delivering an accessible COVID-19 education and physical therapy programme within the community was high with good adherence rates and meaningful improvements in fatigue and respiratory symptoms. In terms of research importance, it plausible to suggest that thousands of people with long COVID-19 in the UK cannot be accommodated to hospital-based rehabilitation programmes, so community-based rehabilitation of this nature may provide a feasible alternative.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society,BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: COVID-19 / Disease management / Fatigue / Health care access / Health education / Lifestyles / Long COVID / Physical therapy / Public health / Symptom management / ‘Walk this way’ – Innovations in pulmonary rehabilitation