Different but the Same: Common Themes in Illness Experience Among People With Diverse Long COVID Symptoms and the Potential Benefits of Virtual Group Medical Visits

Abstract

Long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is poorly understood, widespread and debilitating. Integrative medical group visits (IMGVs) provide group medical care virtually or in person and are reimbursed by insurance payors. IMGV introduces integrative modalities such as mindfulness, nutrition, and acupressure in a person-centered, supportive, and educational environment. To evaluate a telehealth IMGV program called Nourish to Flourish (N2F) for patients with long COVID, three researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of pre- and post-group individual interviews. Twenty-five patients provided interviews, of which fifteen included pre- and post-group individual interviews. Main themes were unpredictable symptom patterns, a common range of emotions associated with long COVID experience, reconceptualizing self-identity, multiple barriers to care in conventional settings, and connections formed in N2F. Although symptoms varied, N2F participants found commonalities in their experiences of living with long COVID. They empathized with one another regarding changing symptoms, inconsistent social support, shifting identities, and barriers to effective medical care.

Keywords: COVID-19; Long COVID; access to care; complementary/alternative medicine; group medical visits; patient perspectives/narratives; spiritual and integrative care; telehealth.