Identifying interventions and coping strategies to address the psychosocial repercussions of long-COVID: [...], 2026, Carolan et al

[forestglip]

Identifying interventions and coping strategies to address the psychosocial repercussions of long-COVID: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS)

Spoiler: Authors

Carolan, Kelsi; Charles, Doreek; Moynihan, Laura; Parekh, Rupal

[Line breaks added]

Abstract
Long-COVID is a serious public health concern impacting millions of adults and children around the world. Long-COVID can have substantial psychosocial repercussions, with detrimental effects on mental health, quality of life, financial wellbeing and employment, but there are limited interventions for addressing the psychosocial effects of this illness. In particular, the interventions and coping strategies individuals with long-COVID employed within the earliest days of this disease’s emergence have not been fully examined – a significant gap in understanding the lived experiences of affected individuals.

The authors conducted a Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) to identify psychosocial interventions and coping strategies utilized and valued by individuals with long-COVID, as well as any challenges such individuals encountered. This QIMS highlighted barriers to accessing treatment and psychosocial support, pinpointing needed areas for intervention.

We identified 11 overarching themes across the data set of qualitative literature, emphasizing the significance of validation and empathy from healthcare providers and access to mental health care as professional interventions; and interpersonal support outside of formal systems of care, activity modification, self-advocacy and education, and meaning-making as informal interventions and coping strategies.

Barriers participants encountered included healthcare-related obstacles unique to seeking care for a novel, poorly understood chronic illness, medical gaslighting, inadequate interpersonal support, and systemic barriers to well-being within and beyond the medical system.

This QIMS addresses a critical gap in the long-COVID literature, with implications for the development of effective psychosocial interventions for this underserved population, as well as healthcare provider education, and healthcare and disability policy.

Web | DOI | PDF | SSM - Qualitative Research in Health | Open Access

 

[rvallee]

I have no idea who or what this is for. The entire premise is wrong.

Barriers participants encountered included healthcare-related obstacles unique to seeking care for a novel, poorly understood chronic illness, medical gaslighting, inadequate interpersonal support, and systemic barriers to well-being within and beyond the medical system.

That's you, guy. You know that, right? Well, you as in health care professionals pushing for psychosocial this and that, because this junk is a systemic nightmare. They don't know that. They'd know it if they ever bothered listening.

The worst part is that if they actually did listen, all the relevant information is in there. But it's always misinterpreted, with intent and purpose of promoting the traditional gaslighting denial of care. This is all over the data they have, but the only plausible interpretation is that training in the health care profession simply makes almost all of them incapable of seeing it. It can be said to their face and they still don't get it.

 

[Sean]

Any discussion in there about the adverse consequences of inappropriate psychosocial attributions and 'treatments'?

 

[Eleanor]

Any discussion in there about the adverse consequences of inappropriate psychosocial attributions and 'treatments'?

No. It's a very superficial copy-and-paste exercise, presumably a student assignment?