Long Covid and Health Inequalities

What's Next for Research and Policy Advocacy

Bibliographic Data

ID19508630
AuthorsSarah Akhtar Baz (0000-0001-9393-8003, York Trial Unit, Health Sciences University of York York UK, corresponding author), Mirembe Woodrow (0000-0001-6113-0050, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton Southampton UK), Donna Clutterbuck (0000-0001-5622-3076, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton Southampton UK), Chao Fang (0000-0002-7072-6072, Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology University of Liverpool Liverpool UK), Jordan Cr Mullard (0000-0003-2712-6626, Faculty of Medical Science Newcastle University Newcastle UK), Amitava Banerjee (0000-0001-8741-3411, Institute of Health Informatics University College London London UK), Sarah Barley‐McMullen (0000-0002-2887-1241, Long Covid SOS Charity Oxfordshire UK), Jd Carpentieri (0000-0001-7550-1676, Institute of Education University College London London UK), Anne‐laure Donskoy (0000-0002-3933-9162, School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies University of Bristol Bristol UK), Alice Faux‐nightingale (0000-0002-4865-181X, Centre for Musculoskeletal Health Research, School of Medicine Keele University Keele UK), Sasha Lewis‐Jackson (0000-0001-6141-9399, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science, Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford Oxford UK), Margaret E O'Hara (0000-0001-9812-5183, Long Covid Support Charity England and Wales UK), T Rai (0000-0001-5201-9780, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science, Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford Oxford UK), Ondine Sherwood (0000-0003-4421-2382, Long Covid SOS Charity Oxfordshire UK), Nina Smyth (0000-0001-9047-6958, Psychology, School of Social Sciences University of Westminster London UK), Kirsty Stanley (0000-0002-5562-6022, Long Covid Kids Charity England, Wales and Scotland UK), Victoria Welsh (0000-0002-9156-5271, School of Medicine Keele University Keele UK), Ghazala Mir (0000-0002-5277-6885, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health University of Leeds Leeds UK), Nisreen A Alwan (0000-0002-4134-8463, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton Southampton UK)
Year2024
Volume27
Issue5
Pagese70047-e70047
Publication date2024-10-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.70047
PMID39358980
OpenAlexW4403101251
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited15

INTRODUCTION: Organised by the 'Qualitative Long Covid Network', a workshop for qualitative Long COVID (LC) researchers, LC charity representatives and people with LC took place in June 2023, where research on the intersectional inequalities affecting LC prevalence, recognition and care was shared and discussed. METHODS: Five key themes were drawn up from presentations, discussions and reflections during the workshop, which are presented in this study. RESULTS: The following five themes are discussed: the unfairness of LC, difficulties in accessing care, mistrust of the healthcare system, a lack of understanding of LC and experiences of stigma and discrimination. Factors that widen or narrow inequalities related to LC were identified. CONCLUSION: A call to action is proposed to investigate and address inequalities through a robust LC research agenda that speaks with conviction to policy and decision-makers. We argue that there needs to be a strong investment in research and evidence-based policy and practice to mitigate the worst effects of the condition and address the inequalities in experience, treatment and support, which are experienced more often and more acutely by some of society's most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals. PATIENT AND PUBLIC (PPI) CONTRIBUTION: Projects included in this article had PPI ongoing activity to inform their research. A member of the CONVALESCENCE PPI group presented at the QLC Network 'Long Covid and Health Inequalities' workshop, as did members of Long COVID Kids, Long COVID Support and Long COVID SOS charities. They were all invited to be co-authors of this article

Conviction · Disadvantaged · Disease · Health care · Inequality · Political science · Psychiatry · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research · Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders · Law · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · Psychology

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