Supporting Long Covid Care: a webtool to facilitate help-seeking among people with Long Covid

Clutterbuck, D; Smyth, N; Begum, F; Chew-Graham, C; Mcgowan, A; Pantelic, M; Ridge, D; Tran, H; Williams, R; Alwan, N A

Abstract

Background Long Covid (also known as Post-COVID19 Condition or Post-COVID Syndrome) is characterised by persistent symptoms following SARSCoV2 infection not explained by other pathology. Some evidence suggests that people from marginalised communities are more likely to experience Long Covid but are less likely to be represented in post-covid care in England. Objectives Findings from the STIMULATE-ICP case finding and HI-COVE studies show that some people living with Long Covid struggle to get adequate healthcare and social support. Barriers to obtaining support include a lack of awareness of Long Covid and supports available, uncertainty around the cause and complexity of symptoms, as well as experiences and expectations of stigma. The new Supporting Long Covid Care (SLCC) webtool was developed based on these findings and aimed to both facilitate help-seeking for people with probable Long Covid who are not receiving care and raise awareness among professionals. Extensive engagement with people with lived experience and professionals shaped the webtool. SLCC content was then beta-tested with stakeholders. Results SLCC (long-covid-care.org.uk) was launched in March 2024. One of its features is the acknowledgement that Long Covid can be a stigmatising condition. SLCC includes real-life quotes to connect emotionally with users, highlights the shared experiences of people living with Long Covid and illustrates the difficulties faced when seeking recognition and support. It encourages conversations with professionals, friends, family and others who may be relied on for support and offers resources to facilitate those conversations and inform next steps. SLCC is also an informative tool for healthcare professionals around Long Covid stigma. Conclusions SLCC is open to use by members of the public. Real-world evaluation and translation to other languages are now needed to explore if this webtool is beneficial and contributes towards addressing health inequalities. Key messages • SLCC encourages people with probable Long Covid to seek help and support. • SLCC raises awareness among healthcare professionals about the barriers and stigma people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, may face when considering reaching out for support.

Citation

Clutterbuck, D., Smyth, N., Begum, F., Chew-Graham, C., Mcgowan, A., Pantelic, M., Ridge, D., Tran, H., Williams, R., & Alwan, N. A. Supporting Long Covid Care: a webtool to facilitate help-seeking among people with Long Covid. Presented at 17th European Public Health Conference 2024 Sailing the Waves of European Public Health: Exploring a Sea of Innovation Lisbon, Portugal 12–15 November 2024

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Abstract
• Conference Name: 17th European Public Health Conference 2024 Sailing the Waves of European Public Health: Exploring a Sea of Innovation Lisbon, Portugal 12–15 November 2024
• Acceptance Date: Oct 28, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 28, 2024
• Publication Date: Oct 28, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 15, 2024
• Journal: European Journal of Public Health
• Print ISSN: 1101-1262
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-360X
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: Supplement_3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.1822
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/974531
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/34/Supplement_3/ckae144.1822/7844653