Date Presented 04/05/2025
We present findings from a national survey that revealed gaps in awareness and use of clinical practice guidelines for long COVID rehabilitation and identify opportunities to improve clinical practice and advance research.
Primary Author and Speaker: Malachy James Clancy
Additional Authors and Speakers: Robert Dekerlegand
PURPOSE: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have emerged to optimize Long COVID (LC) rehabilitation outcomes. It is unknown if occupational therapists (OTs) are aware of these CPGs and if these evidence-based recommendations are adopted in practice. This study explored the awareness of LC symptomatology and relevant CPGs, and their application in OT practice in the U.S.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional, postal-based survey was mailed to 900 OTs, randomly selected from the state with the highest prevalence of adult LC according to the CDC Household Pulse Survey in each of the nine U.S. Census Bureau divisions.
METHOD: A survey was developed with input from external reviewers with expertise in LC management and piloted prior to dissemination. Information related to participant demographics, their awareness of LC symptoms, and their utilization of applicable CPGs were summarized with appropriate descriptive statistics and frequency counts.
RESULTS: A total of 104 respondents were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 43.4 years (SD 12.9) and a mean of 17.2 years of clinical experience (SD 11.4). Of the 39.4% who treat people with LC, 87.8% report awareness of LC symptomatology; however, 26.8% were aware of applicable CPGs and only 12.2% were aware of standardized outcome measures. Though 87.5% believe LC will continue to be treated by OTs, 42.5% were unaware of post-exertional malaise (PEM), and only 12.5% currently use CPGs in practice.
CONCLUSION: Occupational Therapists believe LC will be an ongoing issue in the field. Though most are aware of basic symptomatology, a significant portion were unaware of PEM, a hallmark symptom of LC. In addition, the lack of awareness and utilization of CPG and standardized outcome measures may delay the translation of evidence into practice, negatively affecting patient outcomes. This research highlights gaps in the knowledge to support persons with LC and identifies opportunities to improve clinical practice and advance research.
References
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