Supporting Health for the Long Haul: a literature synthesis and proposed occupational therapy self-management virtual group intervention for return-to-work

ABSTRACT

As we rebuild our communities during the ongoing pandemic, support is needed for those with ongoing symptoms after COVID-19, also known as ‘long COVID.’ Fatigue and cognitive problems pose a particular challenge in the workplace. The emergent nature of long COVID has resulted in disjointed attempts to address return-to-work. This paper presents a critical appraisal of the current evidence, which reveals a scarcity of return-to-work interventions for people with long COVID. Insights from research in other chronic conditions guided the development of a possible intervention for people with long COVID. This paper will describe the components of a virtual self-management group program addressing return-to-work in people with long COVID. The program will feature short educational modules paired with an OT-led, live weekly support group. The Work Limitations Questionnaire will be utilised to assess change in perceived workplace participation and challenges, at the onset and close of the six-week program.

KEYWORDS:

• Long COVID
• Long Hauler
• occupational therapy
• post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
• return-to-work
• self-management
• virtual support
• work engagement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).