Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42144858›Full record

ArticleOccupational therapy international2026

Experiences of People With Long COVID Accessing Rehabilitation Services: A Qualitative Study.

Daria St-Jean, Stephanie Haynes, Venezia Ficara, Anna Streib, Fatimata Ouédraogo, Anne-Marie Spiridigliozzi, Rosa Minichiello, Debbie Ehrmann Feldman, Barbara Mazer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Occupational therapy international, 2026. 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

9 authors.

Daria St-JeanSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, mcgill.ca.
Stephanie HaynesSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, mcgill.ca.
Venezia FicaraSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, mcgill.ca.
Anna StreibSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, mcgill.ca.
Fatimata OuédraogoCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, crir.ca.
Anne-Marie SpiridigliozziCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, crir.ca.
Rosa MinichielloCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, crir.ca.
Debbie Ehrmann FeldmanCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, crir.ca.
Barbara MazerSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, mcgill.ca.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0557-2457

Funding

Foundation Cité de la SantéJewish Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeLong COVID is associated with a range of physical, cognitive, and/or psychological symptoms that significantly affect daily functioning. These individuals require rehabilitation services to address their limitations. This study explored the experiences of people with long COVID regarding access to and receipt of rehabilitation services.

methodsThis qualitative study recruited 12 individuals with long COVID from a population-based survey among the population of Laval (Quebec). Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic content analysis. Relevant elements were extracted, coded, and organized into themes/subthemes.

resultsTwelve participants (seven females; five males) participated in the study. We identified three main themes, each with subthemes: (1) impact of long COVID on personal and professional life (e.g., professional life, leisure activities, and social life); (2) rehabilitation services (access barriers, perceptions of services received); and (3) psychosocial support (lack or presence of support). Access to rehabilitation services was hampered by several barriers: difficulties obtaining referrals, financial constraints, lack of awareness among health professionals, and service shortages. Participants who accessed rehabilitation services reported satisfaction with care they received and appreciated the multidisciplinary approach.

conclusionsImproving access to rehabilitation services for people with long COVID is essential to support their recovery, as timely and coordinated rehabilitation can facilitate reintegration into daily activities and reduce functional limitations. Strategies to enhance access include increasing health professional awareness, reducing financial and logistical barriers, and expanding service availability.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health Services AccessibilityAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2Social Supportaccesshealthcarelong COVIDrehabilitation servicesresources

Identifiers

PMID42144858
PMCPMC13181215

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.