February 23, 2022
A leaden exhaustion, concentration disorders, loss of taste and smell – these are only some of the symptoms suffered by those affected. A project led by the Dr. Becker Klinikgruppe in collaboration with the Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine Group at Jacobs University Bremen aims to improve the care of individuals with Long-COVID disease. The goal is to develop a holistic and sustainable treatment pathway for adults to support recovery and minimize consequences. To make this a reality, people affected by Long-COVID are currently wanted to participate in an online survey.
"Long-COVID will occupy us in the long term, even after the pandemic is over," said Professor Sonia Lippke, head of the project at Jacobs University. "We urgently need concepts and options for action to deal with the disease," said the health psychologist. "Long-COVID, or post COVID syndrome (PCS), refers to symptoms that are still present more than 12 weeks after the onset of SARS-CoV infection and cannot be explained otherwise," outlined Alina Dahmen, who is teaching at Jacobs University and Medical Director of Klinikum Wolfsburg. Estimates suggest that up to 15 percent of all patients who were infected with SARS-COV2 adopt Long-COVID symptoms.
This is why a new project called "ASAP – Assisted Immediate Augmented Post-/Long-COVID Plan" aims to help better understand potentially affected individuals and their symptoms. A low-threshold screening in the form of a questionnaire is currently being developed. Subsequently, the screening will be extensively evaluated scientifically and used as a first module in a care concept.
Jacobs University is monitoring and evaluating the concept: Which measures are proving successful, and which are not? The results of the research should be disseminated as widely as possible and be used in practice, for example by physicians, therapists, and rehabilitation facilities. "Ideally, our work will benefit many people," said Lippke, who has long been conducting research on issues such as how people with impairments and disabilities can be enabled to participate in society. The project is being funded with around €550,000 as part of the Bavarian Post-COVID Syndrome funding initiative.
The German language survey will be used to test a new instrument to better identify Long-COVID symptoms. It takes about 5 -10 minutes to complete and is digital. There is no cost to participate. A computer or smartphone is needed to participate, as well as Internet access. All data are evaluated by Jacobs University on a completely anonymous basis.
Link to survey:
https://www.unipark.de/uc/asap/2022
Questions are answered by:
Dr. Sonia Lippke | Professor of Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine
s.lippke [at] jacobs-university.de | Tel.: +49 421 200-4730