Longitudinal Evaluation of an Integrated Post–COVID-19/Long COVID Management Program Consisting of Digital Interventions and Personal Support: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) can be addressed with multidisciplinary approaches including professional support and digital interventions. OBJECTIVE This research aimed to test whether patients who received a healthcare facilitation programme including medical internet support from human personal pilots and digital interventions (intervention group, IG, and active control group, ACG) would experience less symptoms, and have a higher workability and social participation than an untreated comparison group (CompG). Secondly, the impact of a thorough diagnostic assessment and the digital interventions tailored to their personal capacity (IG) were compared to patients who only received personal support and digital interventions targeting their main symptoms (ACG). METHODS Employing an RCT design between the IG and ACG, as well as Propensity Score Matching to include the CompG, analyses were run with logistic regression and hierarchical-linear models. N=1020 patients were recruited. RESULTS Symptoms decreased significantly in all groups over time (bT1-T2=0.13, t(549)=5.67, P<.001; bT2-T4=0.06, t(549)=2.83, P=.01) with a main effect of group (b=-0.15, t(549)=-2.65, P=.01), and a more pronounced effect in the IG and ACG compared to the CompG (between groups: bT1-T2=0.14, t(549)=4.31, P<.001; bT2-T4=0.14, t(549)=4.57, P<.001). Workability and social participation were lower in the CompG but there was no significant interaction effect. There were no group differences between the IG and ACG. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, empowerment through personal pilots and digital interventions reduced symptoms, but did not increase workability and social participation. More longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the effect of a diagnostic assessment. Social support and digital interventions should be incorporated to facilitate healthcare interventions for PACS. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05238415