Pursuing Reduction in Fatigue after COVID-19 via Exercise & Rehabilitation (PREFACER): A Randomized Feasibility Trial

Long COVID is a condition associated with negative impacts on quality of life, productivity, and the healthcare system. Fatigue is the most common symptom but currently lacks treatment. There is an urgent need for evidence-based rehabilitation interventions for Long COVID. My research targets this gap by testing the efficacy of a new rehabilitation program (called COVIDEx): how acceptable it is to participants, and whether they stick to it in a small study to see if it could work in a larger study. COVIDEx is physiotherapist-informed and comprises a 50-minute session that includes cardio, strength, balance and breathing exercises, brain games, and stretching. Participants with Long COVID will either receive COVIDEx or no intervention. Clinical outcomes will be collected at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks. One-on-one interviews will explore COVIDEx's acceptability and barriers and facilitators to adherence and retention. I plan to complete a mixed-methods thesis including both quantitative and qualitative methods, to examine the impact of rehabilitation on fatigue related to Long COVID. I intend to examine rehabilitation challenges (program adherence, physical challenges), experiences with rehabilitation in the context of Long COVID (physical component) and how these experiences may change with the rehabilitation intervention. I also plan to look at perceptions of rehabilitation before, during, and after COVIDEx, along with gender-related motivations and challenges. Additionally, I will examine gender-specific patterns in fatigue, discomfort, and changes in mood and energy levels. My research findings will help improve care by assisting patients, clinicians, and policymakers in their decision making regarding whether a new rehabilitation program should be a part of Long COVID fatigue management.