Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40280997›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Mixed methods study of views and experience of non-hospitalised individuals with long COVID of using pacing interventions.

Christel McMullan, Shamil Haroon, Grace Turner, Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi, Sarah E Hughes, Sarah Flanagan, Anuradhaa Subramanian, Krish Nirantharakumar, Elin Haf Davies, Chris Frost and 8 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Christel McMullanCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. c.mcmullan@bham.ac.uk.
Shamil HaroonInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Grace TurnerSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Olalekan Lee AiyegbusiCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Sarah E HughesCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Sarah FlanaganInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Anuradhaa SubramanianAstraZeneca, London, UK.
Krish NirantharakumarInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Elin Haf DaviesAparito Ltd, Wrexham, UK.
Chris FrostAparito Ltd, Wrexham, UK.
Louise JacksonInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Naijie GuanInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Yvonne AlderCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Amy ChongCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Lewis BucklandCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Felicity JeyesCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
David StantonCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Melanie CalvertCentre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research COV-LT-0013
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Long COVID is highly prevalent and debilitating, with key symptoms including fatigue, breathlessness, and brain fog. Pacing is an approach to energy conservation used to help people with chronic conditions like ME/CFS manage the impact of their condition, and could be a useful strategy for people with Long COVID. The aim of this study was to explore the views and experiences of non-hospitalised adults with Long COVID of pacing as an intervention. This mixed methods study is part of the Therapies for Long COVID (TLC) Feasibility trial. A feasibility questionnaire was developed for participants. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of participants at the end of the study and these interviews were analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis approach. 28 participants completed the feasibility questionnaire and 19 participants took part in a qualitative interview. Participants found that pacing helped improve motivation and activity planning. Concerns included challenges due to time constraints, complexity of the intervention, and limited instructions. Pacing for Long COVID may offer potential benefits and is feasible but further research is required to demonstrate its benefits. Overall, research on pacing in the context of Long COVID has the potential to enhance our understanding of symptom management and rehabilitation strategies for this emerging population.

Indexed as

COVID-19AdultAgedFatigueFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesLong CovidMixed methodsPacingQualitative

Identifiers

PMID40280997
PMCPMC12032197

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.