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Patient experience of symptoms and impacts of COVID-19: a qualitative investigation with symptomatic outpatients.
Rofail, Diana; McGale, Nadine; Podolanczuk, Anna J; Rams, Alissa; Przydzial, Krystian; Sivapalasingam, Sumathi; Mastey, Vera; Marquis, Patrick.
  • Rofail D; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA diana.rofail@regeneron.com.
  • McGale N; Modus Outcomes, Letchworth Garden City, UK.
  • Podolanczuk AJ; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
  • Rams A; Modus Outcomes, Letchworth Garden City, UK.
  • Przydzial K; Modus Outcomes, Letchworth Garden City, UK.
  • Sivapalasingam S; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.
  • Mastey V; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.
  • Marquis P; Modus Outcomes, Letchworth Garden City, UK.
BMJ Open ; 12(5): e055989, 2022 05 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1891827
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

There is little in-depth qualitative evidence of how symptoms manifest themselves in outpatients with COVID-19 and how these in turn impact outpatients' daily lives. The objective of the study was therefore to explore the experience of outpatients with COVID-19 qualitatively, concerning the symptomatic experience and its subsequent impact on daily life.

SETTING:

Qualitative research study comprising virtual in-depth, open-ended interviews with outpatients and clinicians.

PARTICIPANTS:

Thirty US adult patients with COVID-19 were interviewed within 21 days of diagnosis. Patients were 60% female and 87% white, who had to self-report one of the following fever, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, change/loss of taste/smell, vomiting/diarrhoea or body/muscle aches. Five independent clinicians were also interviewed about their experience treating outpatients. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Transcripts were analysed thematically to organise symptoms and impacts of daily life into higher-order overarching categories, and subsequently propose a conceptual model. The adequacy of the sample size was assessed by conceptual saturation analysis.

RESULTS:

Patient-reported concepts were organised into six symptom themes (upper respiratory, lower respiratory, systemic, gastrointestinal, smell and taste, and other) and seven impact themes (activities of daily living, broad daily activities, leisure/social activities, and physical, emotional, professional and quarantine-specific impacts). Symptom type, severity, duration and time of onset varied by patient. Clinicians endorsed all patient-reported symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

The manifestation of symptoms in outpatients is heterogeneous and affects all aspects of daily life. Outpatients offered new detailed insights into their symptomatic experiences, including heterogeneous experiences of smell and taste, and the impacts that symptoms had on their daily lives. Findings of this research may be used to supplement existing knowledge of the outpatient experience of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, to further inform treatment guidelines and to provide an evidence base for evaluating potential treatment benefits.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Outpatients / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-055989

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Outpatients / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-055989