Navigating uncertainty: occupational therapists’ experiences of Long COVID management in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Abstract

Purpose Long COVID presents global challenges for healthcare professionals. Occupational therapists responded by seeking effective treatment strategies. The approaches of occupational therapists supporting long-haulers in German-speaking countries remain under-explored. The purpose of this study is to explore how occupational therapists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland navigate and apply profession-specific strategies in the new clinical landscape of Long COVID care. Materials and Methods This study used qualitative-descriptive design and content analysis to extract insights from seven semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists in inpatient and outpatient settings from three countries. Results Four overarching themes emerged: how Long COVID was encountered within the scope of occupational therapy, the multifaceted repertoire experts used to support long haulers, triumphs and challenges that emerged in Long COVID treatment, and recommendations and opportunities for occupational therapy practice. The results underscore the complex support needed for long-haulers, achieved through a multifaceted occupational therapy repertoire, incorporating client-centred, occupation-focused, and context-referencing strategies with shared decision-making and collaborative therapy planning. Conclusions Occupational therapy concepts, with their focus on human occupation, may offer new treatment options and strategies for managing emerging conditions such as Long COVID.