How do German General Practitioners Manage Long-/Post-COVID? A Qualitative Study in Primary Care
Beatrice E Bachmeier1, Salome Hölzle1, Mohamed Gasser1
1Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Viruses
|April 28, 2023
Summary
German general practitioners (GPs) manage Long-COVID by exclusion, often using a wait-and-see approach and lifestyle advice. Further research is needed for effective interventions and prevention strategies for Long-COVID.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Many patients experience persistent symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, commonly managed in primary care settings.
- Current medical guidelines for diagnosing and treating Long-COVID (Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection) are insufficient.
- General Practitioners (GPs) face challenges in managing Long-COVID patients due to a lack of comprehensive guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how German GPs manage patients with Long-COVID.
- To identify challenges GPs encounter in diagnosing and treating Long-COVID.
- To understand the problem-solving strategies employed by GPs for Long-COVID.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design.
- Interviews conducted with 11 German General Practitioners (GPs).
Main Results:
- Commonly reported Long-COVID symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea, chest tightness, and reduced physical capacity.
- Diagnosis of Long-COVID was primarily achieved through exclusion.
- GPs predominantly managed Long-COVID patients within their practice, with infrequent referrals. Non-pharmacological interventions included watchful waiting, sick leave, lifestyle advice, and exercise. Pharmacological treatments targeted specific symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Further research is essential to develop and validate both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions for Long-COVID.
- Strategies for preventing Long-COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection require development.
- Routine data collection on Long-COVID diagnosis and management is crucial for establishing best practices and informing policy decisions to address societal impacts.
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