The PHARM-LC Study: What role can community PHARMacy play in the support of people with Long Covid?

Background to the research Long Covid, persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 infection, is common and can have serious consequences. About 2 million people in the UK have Long Covid. Symptoms include: extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, aches and pains and difficulties concentrating ("brain fog"). Women, social care workers, people with additional health conditions, and people living in more deprived areas are at higher risk of developing Long Covid. Primary care plays a key role in supporting people with Long Covid. This includes community pharmacy, which can support people who may not seek help from their GP or have difficulty in seeing their GP. There are over 11,700 community pharmacies in the UK. These are often conveniently located and can be accessed without appointment. Community pharmacies could provide support for Long Covid but further research is needed to understand how. Aim of our research We will explore experiences of people with Long Covid to understand how they manage their symptoms and who they seek help from. We will explore the views of staff working in community pharmacies (pharmacists, dispensers, counter assistants) to understand their role in providing support for Long Covid. We will use findings to develop an online training module for community pharmacy staff. Research methods We will interview 20 people with Long Covid and 20 community pharmacy staff. Interviewees will be identified through professional groups and social media. Interview data will be analysed to find common experiences and themes. We will work with pharmacy educators, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and members of the public to design new online training for community pharmacy staff. Training will help community pharmacy staff support people with Long Covid. Sharing our findings We will share our findings in several ways and in plain English where suitable: Training module made available through CPPE (Centre for Pharmacy Practice Education - which has access to a network of 65,000 pharmacy staff) YouTube video to raise awareness about the role of community pharmacists in supporting people with Long Covid. Articles for magazines, and interviews with local media (press/TV/radio). Articles for professional practice journals. Academic papers and conference presentations. All resources will be shared through professional networks, social media and our collaborators, including Long Covid patient groups (e.g. https://www.longcovid.org) Patient and public involvement Two public co-applicants (Jones and Briggs) with lived experience of Long Covid have been actively involved in helping to develop the study. Further support has been provided by members of Long Covid Support and Greater Manchester Long Covid peer support groups. A public/patient advisory group of 6-8 people with lived experience of Long Covid from diverse backgrounds will be set-up. This group will provide patient/public views on the research and development of online training module.