Rehabilitation providers' experiences with long COVID care in Canada: a qualitative study

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the experiences, challenges, and recommendations of Canadian Rehabilitation Providers delivering care to people with Long COVID (PWLC), with the goal of informing best practices and guiding service and policy improvements.

Materials and methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 32 Rehabilitation Providers from multiple disciplines and provinces across Canada. Participants were purposively sampled and interviewed between April 2022 and January 2023. Data were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis, incorporating inter-coder and inter-rater agreement and reflexivity practices.

Results: Three central themes emerged: (1) Providers faced substantial barriers, including limited infrastructure, resource constraints, and misinformation about Long COVID; (2) In the absence of formal guidelines, providers adapted their practices through individualized care planning, trial-and-error, and peer learning; and (3) Participants emphasized key components of effective rehabilitation, such as validating patient experiences, promoting self-management and pacing, integrating caregiver support, facilitating peer connections, and fostering inter-professional collaboration.

Conclusion: Rehabilitation Providers have been critical in addressing the evolving needs of PWLC despite inadequate systemic support. Their insights point to the need for coordinated, interdisciplinary, and patient-centered care models, alongside investment in professional training, system infrastructure, and integrated policy responses for current and future post-viral conditions.

Keywords: Long COVID rehabilitation; Rehabilitation professionals; health system preparedness; patient-centered care; qualitative research; self-management strategies.