tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
JMIR Form Res
. 2025 Apr 10:9:e58436.
doi: 10.2196/58436. Improving Health and Well-Being of People With Post-COVID-19 Consequences in South Africa: Situation Analysis and Pilot Intervention Design
Nicole Audrey Glover[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Farzana Sathar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pride Mokome[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nkululeko Mathabela[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sipokazi Taleni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Alexandra van Blydenstein[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Anna-Maria Mekota[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Salome Charalambous[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Andrea Rachow[SUP] 3 5 6 [/SUP], Olena Ivanova[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Multisystemic complications post-COVID-19 infection are increasingly described in the literature, yet guidance on the management remains limited.
objectives: This study aimed to assess the needs, preferences, challenges, and existing interventions for individuals with post-COVID-19 symptoms. Based on this, we aimed to develop a context-adapted intervention to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals with post-COVID-19 complications.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional mixed-methods situation analysis assessing the needs, preferences, challenges, and existing interventions for patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms. We collected data through questionnaires, semistructured in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) from individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 within the previous 18-month period and health care providers who managed patients with COVID-19 in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics, qualitative data were transcribed, and deductive analysis focused on suggestions for future interventions. Findings guided the development of a group intervention.
Results: We conducted 60 questionnaires, 13 interviews, and 3 FGDs. Questionnaires showed limited knowledge of post-COVID-19 complications at 26.7% (16/60). Of those who received any rehabilitation for COVID-19 (19/60, 31.7%), 94.7% (18/19) found it helpful for their recovery. Just over half (23/41, 56%) of those who did not receive rehabilitation reported that they would have liked to. The majority viewed rehabilitation as an important adjunct to post-COVID-19 care (56/60, 93.3%) and that support groups would be helpful (53/60, 88.3%). Qualitative results highlighted the need for mental health support, structured post-COVID-19 follow-up, and financial aid in post-COVID-19 care. Based on the insights from the situation analysis, the theory of change framework, and existing post-COVID-19 evidence, we designed and conducted a pilot support group and rehabilitation intervention for individuals with post-COVID-19 complications. Our main objective was to assess the change in physical and psychological well-being pre- and postintervention. The intervention included 8 weekly themed group sessions supplemented by home tasks. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by questionnaires pre- and postintervention on post-COVID-19 symptoms, quality of life with the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level, short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, and physical function by spirometry and 1-minute sit-to-stand test. We also assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention by questionnaires and semistructured in-depth interviews. The intervention outcome analysis is yet to be conducted.
Conclusions: Insights from patients and health care providers on the characteristics of post-COVID-19 complications helped guide the development of a context-adapted intervention program with potential to improve health and well-being post-COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; South Africa; context-adapted; cross-sectional; focus group; group care; health care workers; health worker; hospital; in-depth; intervention; interviews; mental health; mixed method; patients; physical health; pilot; post–COVID-19; qualitative; quality of life; quantitative; questionnaire; rehabilitation; situation analysis; support; support group; survey; well-being.
. 2025 Apr 10:9:e58436.
doi: 10.2196/58436. Improving Health and Well-Being of People With Post-COVID-19 Consequences in South Africa: Situation Analysis and Pilot Intervention Design
Nicole Audrey Glover[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Farzana Sathar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pride Mokome[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nkululeko Mathabela[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sipokazi Taleni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Alexandra van Blydenstein[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Anna-Maria Mekota[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Salome Charalambous[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Andrea Rachow[SUP] 3 5 6 [/SUP], Olena Ivanova[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40209024
- DOI: 10.2196/58436
Background: Multisystemic complications post-COVID-19 infection are increasingly described in the literature, yet guidance on the management remains limited.
objectives: This study aimed to assess the needs, preferences, challenges, and existing interventions for individuals with post-COVID-19 symptoms. Based on this, we aimed to develop a context-adapted intervention to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals with post-COVID-19 complications.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional mixed-methods situation analysis assessing the needs, preferences, challenges, and existing interventions for patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms. We collected data through questionnaires, semistructured in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) from individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 within the previous 18-month period and health care providers who managed patients with COVID-19 in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics, qualitative data were transcribed, and deductive analysis focused on suggestions for future interventions. Findings guided the development of a group intervention.
Results: We conducted 60 questionnaires, 13 interviews, and 3 FGDs. Questionnaires showed limited knowledge of post-COVID-19 complications at 26.7% (16/60). Of those who received any rehabilitation for COVID-19 (19/60, 31.7%), 94.7% (18/19) found it helpful for their recovery. Just over half (23/41, 56%) of those who did not receive rehabilitation reported that they would have liked to. The majority viewed rehabilitation as an important adjunct to post-COVID-19 care (56/60, 93.3%) and that support groups would be helpful (53/60, 88.3%). Qualitative results highlighted the need for mental health support, structured post-COVID-19 follow-up, and financial aid in post-COVID-19 care. Based on the insights from the situation analysis, the theory of change framework, and existing post-COVID-19 evidence, we designed and conducted a pilot support group and rehabilitation intervention for individuals with post-COVID-19 complications. Our main objective was to assess the change in physical and psychological well-being pre- and postintervention. The intervention included 8 weekly themed group sessions supplemented by home tasks. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by questionnaires pre- and postintervention on post-COVID-19 symptoms, quality of life with the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level, short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, and physical function by spirometry and 1-minute sit-to-stand test. We also assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention by questionnaires and semistructured in-depth interviews. The intervention outcome analysis is yet to be conducted.
Conclusions: Insights from patients and health care providers on the characteristics of post-COVID-19 complications helped guide the development of a context-adapted intervention program with potential to improve health and well-being post-COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; South Africa; context-adapted; cross-sectional; focus group; group care; health care workers; health worker; hospital; in-depth; intervention; interviews; mental health; mixed method; patients; physical health; pilot; post–COVID-19; qualitative; quality of life; quantitative; questionnaire; rehabilitation; situation analysis; support; support group; survey; well-being.