Social Life of Females with Persistent COVID-19 Symptoms: A Qualitative Study

Aghaei, Atefeh; Zhang, Ran; Taylor, Slone; Tam, Cheuk-Chi; Yang, Chih‐Hsiang; Li, Xiaoming; Qiao, Shan

doi:10.3390/ijerph19159076

Cited by 23 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Specifically, social risk factors reduced the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle, limit sources of psychological stress, and pursue clinical care. In another study by Aghaei, Zhang, et al (2022), American women expressed how their recovery was impeded by employment‐related challenges, an inability to pay medical bills, and a lack of health insurance. Beyond interfering with healthcare visits, there is a wealth of data on the biological implications of social risk factors, termed social determinants of health (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I'm still here, I'm alive and breathing’: The experience of Black Americans with long COVID

Bergmans

Chambers-Peeple

et al. 2023

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Aims and ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to characterize the impact of long COVID on quality of life and approaches to symptom management among Black American adults.BackgroundAs a novel condition, qualitative evidence concerning long COVID symptoms and their impact on quality of life can inform the refinement of diagnostic criteria and care plans. However, the underrepresentation of Black Americans in long COVID research is a barrier to achieving equitable care for all long COVID patients.DesignWe employed an interpretive description study design.MethodsWe recruited a convenience sample of 15 Black American adults with long COVID. We analysed the anonymized transcripts from race‐concordant, semi‐structured interviews using an inductive, thematic analysis approach. We followed the SRQR reporting guidelines.ResultsWe identified four themes: (1) The impact of long COVID symptoms on personal identity and pre‐existing conditions; (2) Self‐management strategies for long COVID symptoms; (3) Social determinants of health and symptom management; and (4) Effects on interpersonal relationships.ConclusionFindings demonstrate the comprehensive ramifications of long COVID on the lives of Black American adults. Results also articulate how pre‐existing conditions, social risk factors, distrust due to systemic racism, and the nature of interpersonal relationships can complicate symptom management.Relevance to Clinical PracticeCare approaches that support access to and implementation of integrative therapies may be best suited to meet the needs of long COVID patients. Clinicians should also prioritize eliminating patient exposure to discrimination, implicit bias, and microaggressions. This is of particular concern for long COVID patients who have symptoms that are difficult to objectively quantify, such as pain and fatigue.No Patient or Public ContributionWhile patient perspectives and experiences were the focus of this study, patients were not involved with the design or conduct of the study, data analysis or interpretation, or writing the manuscript.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I'm still here, I'm alive and breathing’: The experience of Black Americans with long COVID

Bergmans

Chambers-Peeple

et al. 2023

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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“…We gathered information on the influence of persistent COVID-19 symptoms on female-long-haulers' lives and the coping strategies utilized by them. The interview guide (see Supplementary Data 1), developed for a larger study, investigates different aspects of long COVID and lived experiences of female long haulers (50). The open-ended interview questions were derived based on the literature to find To compensate for the time of participants, we gave a $30 Amazon e-gift card to each participant.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience resources and coping strategies of COVID-19 female long haulers: A qualitative study

Aghaei

Aggarwal

Zhang

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundFemale long haulers deal with persistent post-acute COVID-19 symptoms that have serious health implications. This study aimed to identify resilience resources at multiple socio-ecological levels for female long haulers and describe how resilience resources affect their responses to long COVID.MethodsPurposive sampling was adopted to recruit participants through social media from April to June 2021 followed by 15 semi-structured interviews. An inductive analytical approach was adopted to categorize themes by open and axial coding that were verified by peer review.ResultsFemale long haulers relied on resources at various socio-ecological levels to foster their resilience in response to long COVID. At the individual level, they utilized cognitive and emotional resources to increase knowledge, learn new skills, set goals, and manage emotions; behavioral resources (e.g., internal motivation and executive functioning) to perform physical, creative, and recreational activities, and adopt healthier eating habits; and spiritual resources to perform spiritual rituals and connect with God. At the social level, the support from existing relationships and/or online social support groups enhanced their social identity and provided material and informational resources. At the health systems level, the guidance from counselors and physicians and availability of clinics, medicines, and health equipment assisted them in symptom management and medication adherence.ConclusionThe resilience of female long haulers can be enhanced through (1) offering financial and health-related resources, (2) developing online social-support groups, (3) counseling and care service training for healthcare professionals, and (4) implementing more psychosocial interventions by labor organizations.

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“…Early qualitative research on the broader patient experience of COVID-19 has revealed some common themes including symptom variability, a heavy sense of stigma, siloed care, the burden on patients to access care, and fear of a permanent reduction in physical and cognitive abilities [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Open-ended survey studies have also highlighted themes such as multiple symptoms with variable intensity, challenges seeking medical care, motivation to move forward with self-compassion, and also interest in participating in research to explore more about the condition [ 10 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Fog and Fatigue following COVID-19 Infection: An Exploratory Study of Patient Experiences of Long COVID

Chasco

Dukes

Jones

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is a poorly understood condition with significant impact on quality of life. We aimed to better understand the lived experiences of patients with PASC, focusing on the impact of cognitive complaints (“brain fog”) and fatigue on (1) daily activities, (2) work/employment, and (3) interpersonal relationships. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 patients of a Midwestern academic hospital’s post-COVID-19 clinic. We audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed interviews thematically using a combined deductive-inductive approach and collected participants’ characteristics from chart review. Participants frequently used descriptive and metaphorical language to describe symptoms that were relapsing-remitting and unpredictable. Fatigue and brain fog affected all domains and identified subthemes included symptoms’ synergistic effects, difficulty with multitasking, lack of support, poor self-perception, and fear of loss of income and employment. Personal relationships were affected with change of responsibilities, difficulty parenting, social isolation, and guilt due to the burdens placed on family. Furthermore, underlying social stigma contributed to negative emotions, which significantly affected emotional and mental health. Our findings highlight PASC’s negative impact on patients’ daily lives. Providers can better support COVID-19 survivors during their recovery by identifying their needs in a sensitive and timely manner.

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Social Life of Females with Persistent COVID-19 Symptoms: A Qualitative Study

Cited by 23 publications

References 73 publications

‘I'm still here, I'm alive and breathing’: The experience of Black Americans with long COVID

‘I'm still here, I'm alive and breathing’: The experience of Black Americans with long COVID

Resilience resources and coping strategies of COVID-19 female long haulers: A qualitative study

Brain Fog and Fatigue following COVID-19 Infection: An Exploratory Study of Patient Experiences of Long COVID

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