ArticlePloS one2025
Episodic disability framework in the context of Long COVID: Findings from a community-engaged international qualitative study.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- Severity of activity limitation and prevalence of long COVID: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland.Tropical medicine and health · 2026Article
- Battling the Bots and Defending Against Fraudulent Responses in an International Community-Engaged Web-Based Survey With People Living With Long COVID: Methodological Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Sustained Reduction in Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Long COVID: A Report from the RECOVER-adult Cohort Study.JACC. Advances · 2026Article
- Associations between heart rate and physical activity in people with post-COVID-19 condition accounting for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026Observational
- Rethinking measurement of health outcomes in Long COVID: complexities, challenges and considerations.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2026Article
- Rehabilitation strategies for long COVID: integrating human factors engineering.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Review
- Article
- Prevalence, Severity, Concomitant Factors, and Natural Trajectory of Insomnia in Patients with Long COVID.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Community Engagement in Long Covid Research: Process, Evaluation and Recommendations From the Long COVID and Episodic Disability Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Prevalence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people living with HIV: a systematic review with meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Experiences of physiotherapists working with adults living with Long COVID in Canada: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2024Article
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25 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundIncreasing numbers of adults are living with the health-related consequences of Long COVID. The Episodic Disability Framework (EDF), derived from perspectives of adults living with HIV, characterizes the multi-dimensional and episodic nature of health-related challenges (disability) experienced by an individual. Our aim was to determine the applicability of the Episodic Disability Framework to conceptualize the health-related challenges experienced among adults living with Long COVID.
methodsWe conducted a community-engaged qualitative descriptive study involving online semi-structured interviews. We recruited adults who self-identified as living with Long COVID via collaborator community organizations in Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, and United States. We purposively recruited for diversity in age, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and time since initial COVID-19 infection. We used a semi-structured interview guide informed by the EDF to explore experiences of disability living with Long COVID, specifically health-related challenges and how challenges were experienced over time. We conducted a group-based content analysis.
resultsOf the 40 participants, the median age was 39 years; and the majority were white (73%), women (63%), living with Long COVID for ≥ 1 year (83%). Consistent with the Episodic Disability Framework, disability was described as multi-dimensional and episodic, characterized by unpredictable periods of health and illness. Experiences of disability were consistent with the three main components of the Framework: A) dimensions of disability (physical, cognitive, mental-emotional health challenges, difficulties with day-to-day activities, challenges to social inclusion, uncertainty); B) contextual factors, extrinsic (social support; accessibility of environment and health services; stigma and epistemic injustice) and intrinsic (living strategies; personal attributes) that exacerbate or alleviate dimensions of disability; and C) triggers that initiate episodes of disability.
conclusionsThe Episodic Disability Framework provides a way to conceptualize the multi-dimensional and episodic nature of disability experienced by adults living with Long COVID. The Framework provides guidance for future measurement of disability, and health and rehabilitation approaches to enhance practice, research, and policy in Long COVID.
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