An Evaluation of Plain Language Recommendations, Recommendations Maps, and Visual Recommendations for Youth Understanding of Post COVID-19 Condition Guidelines: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In adolescents and young adults (AYAs), Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC) is a condition where persistent symptoms occur 3 or more months after COVID-19 infection. These symptoms can have significant consequences on AYAs daily functioning and participation in communities. The Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition (CAN-PCC) are being published online to make recommendations about PCC prevention and management, including for AYAs. Awareness about PCC by AYAs and the effectiveness of CAN-PCC knowledge translation tools has not yet been evaluated. With the Knowledge-to-Action Framework, this mixed methods randomized controlled trial aims to assess the barriers and facilitators to understanding and using PCC recommendations for action. Using an online survey and semi-structured interviews, this trial will evaluate AYAs awareness about PCC and PCC resources, along with the understandability of plain language recommendations compared to Recommendations Map or visual formats. It will also identify ways to improve the accessibility and usability of PCC resources and recommendations. We will analyze numerical data to learn more about each formats understandability, readability, and usability. Text box and interview data will be analyzed to expand on the benefits and weaknesses of each format. Youth partners from diverse backgrounds will be engaged in co-creation throughout the research study. Given the current knowledge gaps about effective resources and recommendation formats for AYAs, these results will allow us to better tailor guideline and knowledge translation projects for PCC and beyond. This information can also be used to help future automation efforts improve knowledge mobilization efficiency.