“A bit of a cough, tired, not very resilient – is that already Long-COVID?” perceptions and experiences of GPs with Long-COVID in year three of the pandemic. a qualitative interview study in Austria.

Publication date: Nov 07, 2024

Long-COVID is a new multisectoral healthcare challenge. This study aims at understanding experiences, knowledge, attitudes and (information) needs that GPs had and have in relation to Long-COVID and how these evolved since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used an exploratory qualitative research design using semistructured interviews. A total of 30 semistructured interviews with GPs in different primary care settings (single practices, group practices, primary care centres) were conducted between February and July 2022. The data were analysed using qualitative thematic content analysis with the software Atlas. ti. This is the first study that empirically investigated Long-COVID management by GPs in Austria during the third year of the pandemic. All GPs indicated having experience with Long-COVID. In cities, GPs tended to have slightly better networks with specialists. The GPs who already worked in teams tended to find the management of Long-COVID easier. The symptoms that the physicians described as Long-COVID symptoms corresponded to those described in the international literature, but it is unclear whether syndromes and symptomes such as Post-Exertional-Malaise, autonomic dysfunction such as postural tachycardia syndrome or Mast-Cell-Overactivation-Syndrom, and cognitive dysfunctions were also recognized and correctly classified since they were never mentioned. Most GPs reacted quickly by granting the needed sick leaves and by seeing and discussing with the patients often. The treatment of the patients is described as an enormous challenge and frustrating for patient and GP if the treatment does not yield to significantly improved health also due to the high costs for the patient. Long-COVID will continue to preoccupy our health care systems for a long time to come, as new variants of COVID-19 will continue to produce new patients without adequate prevention strategies. Therefore, it is not a question of if but when good support for GPs and adequate care pathways for people with Long-COVID will be implemented. Specific contact points that are familiar with therapy-refractory postacute infection syndromes like the postacute COVID condition as a subgroup of Long-COVID are urgently needed.

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Concepts Keywords
Austria Adult
Gps Aged
July Austria
Pandemic COVID-19
Physicians Female
General practice
General Practitioners
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
PACS
Pandemics
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
post-COVID condition
Post-COVID-19 syndrome
Postinfectious disease
Primary Health Care
Primary health care
Qualitative Research
SARS-CoV-2
Semistructured interviews

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19 pandemic
drug DRUGBANK Tropicamide
disease MESH syndromes
disease MESH postural tachycardia syndrome
disease IDO cell
disease MESH cognitive dysfunctions
disease MESH infection
pathway REACTOME Reproduction
disease MESH Long COVID
disease MESH sequelae
disease IDO acute infection
disease MESH chest pain
disease MESH reinfections
disease MESH tics
disease IDO process
disease MESH infectious diseases
disease MESH burn out
disease MESH chronic fatigue syndrome
disease IDO blood
disease MESH depression
disease IDO history
drug DRUGBANK Zinc
drug DRUGBANK Cortisone
disease MESH panic disorder
drug DRUGBANK Nonoxynol-9
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
disease IDO site
disease IDO facility
drug DRUGBANK Isoxaflutole
drug DRUGBANK Carboxyamidotriazole
disease IDO symptom
disease MESH myelitis
drug DRUGBANK Ademetionine
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
disease MESH Autoimmunity
disease MESH Allergy
disease MESH neglected disease
drug DRUGBANK Ubidecarenone
drug DRUGBANK Selenium
disease MESH oxidative stress
disease MESH inflammation
drug DRUGBANK Lipoic Acid
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Original Article

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