Abstract
Background: Lifestyle-related diseases are characterized by low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Low-grade inflammation is also thought to contribute to the development of Long COVID. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion to prevent lifestyle-related diseases through lifestyle change has emerged frequently in the news. Lifestyle can be defined using the BRAVO themes: physical activity, smoking, alcohol, nutrition and relaxation. To date, there has been limited research on lifestyle in non-hospitalized Long COVID patients. This qualitative study aimed to examine the experiences regarding lifestyle of non-hospitalized Long COVID patients before and after their COVID-19 infection.
Method: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Online interviews were held with five non-hospitalized Long COVID patients (two men, and three women; aged between 27 and 56 years). Interview questions were designed using the I-Change model. Verbatim transcripts were made and a thematic analysis was conducted.
Results: Four themes were derived from the I-Change model. Theme 1 describes the experiences of the participants regarding awareness of lifestyle. Theme 2 illustrates the experiences regarding motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Theme 3 highlights the experiences regarding healthy behavior (action). Theme 4 describes the experiences regarding information about a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion: Based on the interviews, it can be concluded that lifestyle has changed in the participants after COVID-19 infection. On the one hand, some participants longed to change their lifestyles. On the other hand, participants did not manage to do so due to barriers and a lack of energy that were experienced by them and were often a result of Long COVID. Barriers influenced certain BRAVO lifestyle themes and thus prevented participants from executing lifestyle behaviors as before infection.
Method: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Online interviews were held with five non-hospitalized Long COVID patients (two men, and three women; aged between 27 and 56 years). Interview questions were designed using the I-Change model. Verbatim transcripts were made and a thematic analysis was conducted.
Results: Four themes were derived from the I-Change model. Theme 1 describes the experiences of the participants regarding awareness of lifestyle. Theme 2 illustrates the experiences regarding motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Theme 3 highlights the experiences regarding healthy behavior (action). Theme 4 describes the experiences regarding information about a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion: Based on the interviews, it can be concluded that lifestyle has changed in the participants after COVID-19 infection. On the one hand, some participants longed to change their lifestyles. On the other hand, participants did not manage to do so due to barriers and a lack of energy that were experienced by them and were often a result of Long COVID. Barriers influenced certain BRAVO lifestyle themes and thus prevented participants from executing lifestyle behaviors as before infection.
| Original language | English |
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| Publisher | Science Shop, University of Groningen |
| Number of pages | 36 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun-2022 |