[How do people with long COVID cope with their symptoms and everyday limitations? A qualitative study with four focus groups].

BACKGROUND

The heterogenous and fluctuating intensity of long COVID symptoms poses a challenge to both patients and healthcare providers due to a lack of causal treatment options. The aim of supportive therapies is to help individuals cope with symptoms in daily life and maintain functionality. This study aims to identify coping strategies employed by those affected by long COVID and their perceived benefits.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted with four focus groups comprising 23 adult patients suffering from long COVID. The recorded and transcribed group discussions were analyzed using content-structuring content analysis according to Kuckartz. The results were then systematically analyzed, interpreted, and put in a theoretical context.

RESULTS

Participants utilized healthcare resources but developed their own strategies for dealing with long COVID because of their dissatisfaction with medical care. These strategies included energy and resource management, physical activity, enhancing health literacy, changing mindset and lifestyle, infection prevention, using medical aids, and dietary changes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that people with long COVID employ a variety of strategies to cope with impairments in everyday life. According to the interviewees, integrating these approaches into the treatment of long COVID can help to reduce the burden of symptoms on those affected, restore their everyday functionality, and improve their self-efficacy and quality of life. Established concepts like "pacing" or "shared-decision making" can serve as a starting point for developing individualized coping strategies and treatment concepts together with patients.