@Article{info:doi/10.2196/49342,
author="Derksen, Christina
and Rinn, Robin
and Gao, Lingling
and Dahmen, Alina
and Cordes, Cay
and Kolb, Carina
and Becker, Petra
and Lippke, Sonia",
title="Longitudinal Evaluation of an Integrated Post--COVID-19/Long COVID Management Program Consisting of Digital Interventions and Personal Support: Randomized Controlled Trial",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2023",
month="Oct",
day="4",
volume="25",
pages="e49342",
keywords="postacute COVID-19 syndrome; PACS; symptom reduction; work ability; social participation; personal pilots; digital interventions; empowerment; randomized controlled trial; propensity score matching; COVID-19",
abstract="Background: The postacute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) can be addressed with multidisciplinary approaches, including professional support and digital interventions. Objective: This research aimed to test whether patients who received a health care facilitation program including medical internet support from human personal pilots and digital interventions (intervention group [IG] and active control group [ACG]) would experience fewer symptoms and have higher work ability and social participation than an untreated comparison group (CompG). The second objective was to compare the impact of a diagnostic assessment and digital interventions tailored to patients' personal capacity (IG) with that of only personal support and digital interventions targeting the main symptoms (ACG). Methods: In total, 1020 patients with PACS were recruited. Using a randomized controlled trial design between the IG and the ACG, as well as propensity score matching to include the CompG, analyses were run with logistic regression and hierarchical-linear models. Results: Symptoms decreased significantly in all groups over time ($\beta$T1-T2=0.13, t549=5.67, P<.001; $\beta$T2-T4=0.06, t549=2.83, P=.01), with a main effect of the group ($\beta$=--.15, t549=--2.65, P=.01) and a more pronounced effect in the IG and ACG compared to the CompG (between groups: $\beta$T1-T2=0.14, t549=4.31, P<.001; $\beta$T2-T4=0.14, t549=4.57, P<.001). Work ability and social participation were lower in the CompG, but there was no significant interaction effect. There were no group differences between the IG and the ACG. Conclusions: Empowerment through personal pilots and digital interventions reduces symptoms but does not increase work ability and social participation. More longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the effects of a diagnostic assessment. Social support and digital interventions should be incorporated to facilitate health care interventions for PACS. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05238415; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05238415. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s12879-022-07584-z ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/49342",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e49342",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/49342",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37792437"
}