Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41436401›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational and environmental medicine2026

Long COVID and Its Impact on Healthcare Worker's Job Performance: A Qualitative Study in Spain.

Pia Delano, Vicky Serra-Sutton, Dolors Rodriguez-Arjona, Fernando G Benavides, Alejandra Vives, Mireia Utzet

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Pia DelanoFrom the Center for Research in Occupational Health (CiSAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (P.D., F.G.B., M.U.).ORCID 0000-0002-3468-5517
Vicky Serra-SuttonCenter for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) of Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain (P.D., V.S.-S., F.G.B., M.U.).ORCID 0000-0002-7852-175
Dolors Rodriguez-ArjonaInvestigadora social colaboradora de CiSAL, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (D.R.-A.).
Fernando G BenavidesFrom the Center for Research in Occupational Health (CiSAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (P.D., F.G.B., M.U.).ORCID 0000-0003-0747-2660
Alejandra VivesEscuela de Salud Pública, CEDEUS, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile (F.G.B., A.V.).ORCID 0000-0001-5851-0693
Mireia UtzetFrom the Center for Research in Occupational Health (CiSAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (P.D., F.G.B., M.U.).ORCID 0000-0001-5948-3914

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of the study was to explore the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Spain with long COVID and its impact on their job performance, from the perspectives of affected HCWs, healthcare providers, and key stakeholders.

methodsA phenomenological, constructivist approach was used. Seven online focus groups and four interviews were conducted from April to June 2024. Transcripts were thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti using a predefined guideline.

resultsLong COVID significantly impaired work ability due to physical and cognitive limitations. Sick leave followed long-term or intermittent patterns, although many HCWs hesitated to take leave. Return-to-work experiences were shaped by workplace adaptations, institutional support, and persistent symptoms. Improvement proposals include formal recognition and holistic workplace support as they are essential to reduce its occupational burden.

conclusionsLong COVID significantly impacts affected HCWs job performance, highlighting a need for recognition, support, and workplace adaptation.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelWork PerformanceAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeQualitative ResearchReturn to WorkSARS-CoV-2Sick LeaveSpainCOVID-19focus groupshealth service researchoccupational healthSARS-COV-2work abilitywork performance

Identifiers

PMID41436401
PMCPMC13105766

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.