A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a telemedicine self-management intervention for adults with long COVID: The COPE study protocol

Background : Long COVID is a serious public health concern due to its high prevalence and potentially debilitating symptoms. Symptoms may include fatigue, dyspnea, cognitive problems, insomnia, anxiety and depression. There is currently no cure for long COVID and the average length of recovery and proportion of patients who fully recover are still unknown. Subsequently, there is a critical need to improve function. Research in other chronic conditions suggests that psychosocial self-management interventions reduce symptom severity and interference with functioning. We describe the design of our study to examine the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and preliminary efficacy of an intervention designed to improve symptom management and coping in adults with long COVID. Methods : This pilot trial ( N =50) uses a pragmatic, randomized 2-group parallel design set within the MASKED Post-COVID Rehabilitation and Recovery Clinic. The self-management intervention is a 6-week, group-based telemedicine intervention that teaches evidence-based strategies to manage common symptoms and improve stress management as well as communication and self-advocacy. The comparator is a wait-list control. Participants complete self-report measures of the primary and secondary outcomes at baseline and post-treatment/wait-list. Primary outcomes include intervention feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. Secondary outcomes include Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures of fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive difficulties, self-efficacy, pain interference, depression and anxiety symptoms as well as a measure of long COVID symptoms and impression of change. At post-intervention, intervention participants also complete a qualitative interview to inform intervention refinement. Quantitative data will be examined using descriptive and statistical analysis including t tests and chi-square tests to compare the intervention and wait-list groups on secondary outcomes. Qualitative data will be analyzed using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction technique. Discussion : Results of this pilot randomized controlled trial will characterize the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the self-management intervention and inform intervention refinement necessary prior to further testing. Long COVID is a public health concern and rehabilitation approaches that equip patients to manage symptoms may improve patient function and quality of life and reduce burden on the health system. Clinical Trial Registration No. : NCT05658536. Date of Trial Registration : December 16, 2022