Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences
Abstract Background Many people who contract the SAR-CoV-2 virus present with multiple persistent and debilitating physical, cognitive and mental health symptoms that endure beyond the acute infection period. This new syndrome – generally referred to as long COVID – negatively affects patients’ emot...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12590-3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849769508480221184 |
|---|---|
| author | Anh T. P. Nguyen Chantal F. Ski David R. Thompson Susan E. Abbey Stefan Kloiber Natasha Yasmin Sheikhan Peter Selby Roslyn Shields Susan L. Rossell Gillian Strudwick David Castle Lisa D. Hawke |
| author_facet | Anh T. P. Nguyen Chantal F. Ski David R. Thompson Susan E. Abbey Stefan Kloiber Natasha Yasmin Sheikhan Peter Selby Roslyn Shields Susan L. Rossell Gillian Strudwick David Castle Lisa D. Hawke |
| author_sort | Anh T. P. Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Many people who contract the SAR-CoV-2 virus present with multiple persistent and debilitating physical, cognitive and mental health symptoms that endure beyond the acute infection period. This new syndrome – generally referred to as long COVID – negatively affects patients’ emotional wellbeing and quality of life, and presents a major challenge for treatment providers. Considering the lack of evidence-based treatment and supports, this qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of Canadian health and social service providers working with individuals with long COVID, as well as their suggestions for intervention development. Methods Twenty health and social service providers between the ages of 29 and 57 across Canada completed virtual individual interviews to discuss their care experiences and service recommendations for long COVID. Participants were from a range of service sectors, including primary care, rehabilitation, mental health, and community support. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Results Four themes illustrated providers’ the experiences of (1) selecting personalized treatments based on patient presentation and similar conditions amidst uncertainty; and their recommendations for long COVID services, including (2) building an integrated and evidence-based model of care; (3) providing holistic support for patients and families through psychoeducation and daily living resources; and (4) caring for mental health in long COVID. Conclusions Canadian health and social service providers are adopting personalized treatment approaches to address the symptom persistence of long COVID in the face of a considerable knowledge gap. A comprehensive, integrated care pathway is needed to support patients’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing while increasing provider preparedness to treat this complex condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-569ec7f63d724021be29b930fefe26da |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-569ec7f63d724021be29b930fefe26da2025-08-20T03:03:24ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-04-0125111310.1186/s12913-025-12590-3Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiencesAnh T. P. Nguyen0Chantal F. Ski1David R. Thompson2Susan E. Abbey3Stefan Kloiber4Natasha Yasmin Sheikhan5Peter Selby6Roslyn Shields7Susan L. Rossell8Gillian Strudwick9David Castle10Lisa D. Hawke11Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University BelfastSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University BelfastUniversity of TorontoCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthCentre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of TechnologyCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthUniversity of TasmaniaCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthAbstract Background Many people who contract the SAR-CoV-2 virus present with multiple persistent and debilitating physical, cognitive and mental health symptoms that endure beyond the acute infection period. This new syndrome – generally referred to as long COVID – negatively affects patients’ emotional wellbeing and quality of life, and presents a major challenge for treatment providers. Considering the lack of evidence-based treatment and supports, this qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of Canadian health and social service providers working with individuals with long COVID, as well as their suggestions for intervention development. Methods Twenty health and social service providers between the ages of 29 and 57 across Canada completed virtual individual interviews to discuss their care experiences and service recommendations for long COVID. Participants were from a range of service sectors, including primary care, rehabilitation, mental health, and community support. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Results Four themes illustrated providers’ the experiences of (1) selecting personalized treatments based on patient presentation and similar conditions amidst uncertainty; and their recommendations for long COVID services, including (2) building an integrated and evidence-based model of care; (3) providing holistic support for patients and families through psychoeducation and daily living resources; and (4) caring for mental health in long COVID. Conclusions Canadian health and social service providers are adopting personalized treatment approaches to address the symptom persistence of long COVID in the face of a considerable knowledge gap. A comprehensive, integrated care pathway is needed to support patients’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing while increasing provider preparedness to treat this complex condition.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12590-3Long COVIDPost COVID-19 syndromeService providersTreatment recommendationsQualitative researchHealth services research |
| spellingShingle | Anh T. P. Nguyen Chantal F. Ski David R. Thompson Susan E. Abbey Stefan Kloiber Natasha Yasmin Sheikhan Peter Selby Roslyn Shields Susan L. Rossell Gillian Strudwick David Castle Lisa D. Hawke Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences BMC Health Services Research Long COVID Post COVID-19 syndrome Service providers Treatment recommendations Qualitative research Health services research |
| title | Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences |
| title_full | Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences |
| title_fullStr | Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences |
| title_short | Health and social service provider perspectives on challenges, approaches, and recommendations for treating long COVID: a qualitative study of Canadian provider experiences |
| title_sort | health and social service provider perspectives on challenges approaches and recommendations for treating long covid a qualitative study of canadian provider experiences |
| topic | Long COVID Post COVID-19 syndrome Service providers Treatment recommendations Qualitative research Health services research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12590-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anhtpnguyen healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT chantalfski healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT davidrthompson healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT susaneabbey healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT stefankloiber healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT natashayasminsheikhan healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT peterselby healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT roslynshields healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT susanlrossell healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT gillianstrudwick healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT davidcastle healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences AT lisadhawke healthandsocialserviceproviderperspectivesonchallengesapproachesandrecommendationsfortreatinglongcovidaqualitativestudyofcanadianproviderexperiences |