ReviewBMJ open2024
Thematic analysis to explore patients' experiences with long COVID-19: a conceptual model of symptoms and impacts on daily lives.
Review in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Exploring the influence of long COVID upon self-identity: a systematic literature review.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Pooled it
- Factors influencing work ability and return-to-work in individuals affected by post-COVID: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Psychosocial Aspects of the Lived Experience of Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024Pooled it
- Physical activity coaching programme for people with Long COVID: a pilot randomised clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- Experiences of Inspiratory Muscle Training and Physical Exercise in Adults with Post-COVID-19 Condition and Inspiratory Muscle Weakness: A Qualitative Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Exploring the Lived Experiences of Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A Qualitative Study and Conceptual Model of Signs, Symptoms, and Functional Impacts.Neurology and therapy · 2026Article
- Article
- Impaired brain intrinsic connectivity in long COVID during cognitive exertion revealed by independent component analysis.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Candidate treatments for long COVID: a narrative review of expert and patient-driven priorities.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- How do fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, activity and role functioning, and mental health inter-relate in adults with post-COVID-19 syndrome? A structural equation model analysis.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Illness Experiences of Veterans Reporting Long-Term Symptoms or Health Challenges from COVID-19: Results from the VA COVID-19 Observational Research Collaboratory.Journal of general internal medicine · 2025Article
- Living With Persistent Respiratory Symptoms of Long COVID: Qualitative Study Among Brazilian Adults 12 Months After Acute Infection.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Lights and Shadows of Long COVID: Are Latent Infections the Real Hidden Enemy?Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- The symptoms evolution of long COVID‑19 (SE-LC19): a new patient-reported content valid instrument.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2024Article
- Article
- Neurologic manifestations of Long COVID in Colombia: a comparative analysis of post-hospitalization vs. non-hospitalized patients.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThere is limited qualitative research on patients' experiences with long COVID-19, and how specific symptoms impact their daily lives. The study aimed to understand patients' lived experiences of long COVID-19 and to develop a conceptual model representing the symptoms and their impact on overall quality of life.
settingQualitative study consisting of a comprehensive literature review, and in-depth clinician and patient semistructured interviews.
participantsForty-one adult patients with long COVID-19, of whom 18 (44%) were recruited through Regeneron Pharmaceuticals's clinical trials and 23 (56%) through recruitment agencies; 85.4% were female and 73.2% were White. Five independent clinicians treating patients with long COVID-19 were interviewed. Concept saturation was also assessed. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Interview transcripts were analysed thematically to identify concepts of interest spontaneously mentioned by patients, including symptoms and their impacts on daily life, to guide the development of the conceptual model.
resultsFindings from the literature review and clinician and patient interviews resulted in the development of a conceptual model comprising two overarching domains: symptoms (upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, smell and taste, systemic, gastrointestinal, neurocognitive and other) and impacts (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, physical impacts, emotional, social/leisure activities and professional impacts). Saturation was achieved for the reported impacts. The symptoms reported were heterogenic; neurocognitive symptoms, such as numbness, ringing in ears, haziness, confusion, forgetfulness/memory problems, brain fog, concentration, difficulties finding the right word and challenges with fine motor skills, were particularly pertinent for several months.
conclusionThe conceptual model, developed based on patient experience data of long COVID-19, highlighted numerous symptoms that impact patients' physical and mental well-being, and suggests humanistic unmet needs. Prospective real-world studies are warranted to understand the pattern of long COVID-19 experienced in larger samples over longer periods of time.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.