PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Seeking and obtaining effective health care for Long COVID remains a challenge in the USA. Women have particularly been impacted, as they are both at higher risk of developing Long COVID and of facing gendered barriers to having symptoms acknowledged. Long COVID clinics, which provide multidisciplinary and coordinated care, have emerged as a potential solution. To date, however, there has been little examination of U.S. patient experiences with Long COVID clinics and how patients may or may not have come to access care at a Long COVID clinic.
METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 U.S. women aged 18 or older who had experienced Long COVID symptoms for at least 3 months, who had not been hospitalized for acute COVID-19, and who had seen at least one medical provider about their symptoms. Participants were asked about experiences seeking medical care for Long COVID. Long COVID clinic-related responses were analyzed using qualitative framework analysis to identify key themes in experiences with Long COVID clinics.
RESULTS: Of the 30 women, 43.3% (n = 13) had been seen at a Long COVID clinic or by a provider affiliated with a Long COVID clinic and 30.0% (n = 9) had explored or attempted to see a Long COVID clinic but had not been seen at time of interview. Participants expressed five key themes concerning their experiences with seeking care from Long COVID clinics: (1) Access to clinics remains an issue, (2) Clinics are not a one stop shop, (3) Not all clinic providers have sufficient Long COVID knowledge, (4) Clinics can offer validation and care, and (5) Treatment options are critical and urgent.
CONCLUSIONS: While the potential for Long COVID clinics is significant, findings indicate that ongoing barriers to care and challenges related to quality and coordination of care hamper that potential and contribute to distress among women seeking Long COVID care. Since Long COVID clinics are uniquely positioned and framed as being the place to go to manage complex symptoms, it is critical to patient wellbeing that they be properly resourced to provide a level of care that complies with emerging best practices.
METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 U.S. women aged 18 or older who had experienced Long COVID symptoms for at least 3 months, who had not been hospitalized for acute COVID-19, and who had seen at least one medical provider about their symptoms. Participants were asked about experiences seeking medical care for Long COVID. Long COVID clinic-related responses were analyzed using qualitative framework analysis to identify key themes in experiences with Long COVID clinics.
RESULTS: Of the 30 women, 43.3% (n = 13) had been seen at a Long COVID clinic or by a provider affiliated with a Long COVID clinic and 30.0% (n = 9) had explored or attempted to see a Long COVID clinic but had not been seen at time of interview. Participants expressed five key themes concerning their experiences with seeking care from Long COVID clinics: (1) Access to clinics remains an issue, (2) Clinics are not a one stop shop, (3) Not all clinic providers have sufficient Long COVID knowledge, (4) Clinics can offer validation and care, and (5) Treatment options are critical and urgent.
CONCLUSIONS: While the potential for Long COVID clinics is significant, findings indicate that ongoing barriers to care and challenges related to quality and coordination of care hamper that potential and contribute to distress among women seeking Long COVID care. Since Long COVID clinics are uniquely positioned and framed as being the place to go to manage complex symptoms, it is critical to patient wellbeing that they be properly resourced to provide a level of care that complies with emerging best practices.
摘要：
背景：在美国，寻求和获得有效的医疗保健仍然是一个挑战。妇女尤其受到影响，因为他们患长型COVID的风险都较高，并且在症状得到确认方面面临性别障碍。长长的COVID诊所，提供多学科和协调的护理，已经成为一种潜在的解决方案。迄今为止,然而,很少检查美国患者在LongCOVID诊所的经历，以及患者可能或不可能在LongCOVID诊所获得治疗。
方法：我们对30名18岁或以上的美国女性进行了半结构化访谈，这些女性经历了至少3个月的长期COVID症状，他们没有因急性COVID-19住院，并且至少看过一位医疗服务提供者关于他们的症状。参与者被问及为长COVID寻求医疗护理的经历。使用定性框架分析对长COVID诊所相关反应进行分析，以确定长COVID诊所经验中的关键主题。
结果：在30名女性中，43.3%(n=13)的人在长型COVID诊所或附属于长型COVID诊所的提供者看过，30.0%(n=9)的人探索或试图看过长型COVID诊所，但在采访时没有见过。参与者表达了关于他们在LongCOVID诊所寻求护理的五个关键主题：（1）获得诊所仍然是一个问题，(2)诊所不是一站式商店，(3)并非所有诊所提供者都有足够的长期COVID知识，(4)诊所可以提供验证和护理，（5）治疗方案是关键和紧迫的。
结论：虽然大型COVID诊所的潜力很大，研究结果表明，在寻求长期COVID护理的女性中，持续的护理障碍和与护理质量和协调相关的挑战阻碍了这种潜力，并导致了痛苦。由于LongCOVID诊所的独特定位和框架是管理复杂症状的地方，为患者提供适当的资源以提供符合新兴最佳实践的护理水平，这对患者的健康至关重要。
方法：我们对30名18岁或以上的美国女性进行了半结构化访谈，这些女性经历了至少3个月的长期COVID症状，他们没有因急性COVID-19住院，并且至少看过一位医疗服务提供者关于他们的症状。参与者被问及为长COVID寻求医疗护理的经历。使用定性框架分析对长COVID诊所相关反应进行分析，以确定长COVID诊所经验中的关键主题。
结果：在30名女性中，43.3%(n=13)的人在长型COVID诊所或附属于长型COVID诊所的提供者看过，30.0%(n=9)的人探索或试图看过长型COVID诊所，但在采访时没有见过。参与者表达了关于他们在LongCOVID诊所寻求护理的五个关键主题：（1）获得诊所仍然是一个问题，(2)诊所不是一站式商店，(3)并非所有诊所提供者都有足够的长期COVID知识，(4)诊所可以提供验证和护理，（5）治疗方案是关键和紧迫的。
结论：虽然大型COVID诊所的潜力很大，研究结果表明，在寻求长期COVID护理的女性中，持续的护理障碍和与护理质量和协调相关的挑战阻碍了这种潜力，并导致了痛苦。由于LongCOVID诊所的独特定位和框架是管理复杂症状的地方，为患者提供适当的资源以提供符合新兴最佳实践的护理水平，这对患者的健康至关重要。
