Evaluation of Allied Healthcare in Patients Recovering from Covid-19: Study Protocol and Baseline Data of s National Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: De Bie Rob A. , Verburg Arie C. , Agasi-Idenburg Carla , Cup Edith H.C. , Dekker Carolien , Van Dongen Johanna M , Geleijn Edwin , Gerards Marissa H.G. , Graff Maud , Van Heerde Ron , Kalf Hanneke , Kammerer Marly , Kool Renée A. , De Kruif Anja , Kruizenga Hinke M. , Van der Leeden Marike , Lenssen Ton A.F. , Meijer Willemijn M. , Ostelo Raymond , Ronteltap Amber , Van der Schaaf Marike , Van Oers Sonja , De van der Schueren Marian A.E. , Slotegraaf Anne I. , Veenhof Cindy , Hoogeboom Thomas J. , Van der Wees Philip 
Published: June 2022

Objective: To report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study to evaluate longitudinal recovery trajectories of patients recovering from COVID-19 who have visited a primary care allied health professional.Design: Report of the protocol and baseline characteristics for a prospective cohort study with a mixed-methods approach.Patients: Patients recovering from COVID-19 treated by primary care dietitians, exercise therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and/or speech and language therapists in the Netherlands.Methods: The prospective study will measure primary outcome domains: participation, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning, and costs, at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews, on the patients’ experiences with allied healthcare, will be held with a subsample of patients and allied health professionals.Results: The cohort comprises 1,451 patients (57% female, mean age 49 (standard deviation 13) years). Preliminary results for the study cohort show that 974 (67%) of the participants reported mild/moderate severity symptoms during the infection period and patients reported severe restrictions in activities of daily living compared with previous research in other patient populations. Both quantitative and qualitative, will provide insight into the recovery of patients who are treated by allied health professionals.Conclusion: In conclusion, this will be the first comprehensive study to longitudinally evaluate the recovery trajectories and related costs of patients recovering from COVID-19 who are treated by allied health professionals in the Netherlands. This study will provide evidence for the optimal strategy to treat patients recovering from COVID-19 infection, including which patients benefit, and to what extent, from treatment, and which factors might impact their recovery course over time. The preliminary results of this study demonstrated the severity of restrictions and complaints at the start of therapy are substantial.
LAY ABSTRACTThis paper presents the protocol for a prospective study of patients recovering from COVID-19 who are treated by allied health professionals in Dutch primary care. In the forthcoming study, a total of 1,451 patients will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding their social participation in daily life, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning, and healthcare and societal costs at baseline, 3, 6, 9 (costs only) and 12 months. Furthermore, the allied health professionals will answer questions at the start and end of treatments. This report presents baseline characteristics for the study cohort. Initial findings indicate that patients in the current cohort report severe restrictions in activities of daily living compared with previous studies of other patient populations. This report also describes the protocol of the prospective study, which aims to longitudinally evaluate the recovery trajectories and related costs of patients recovering from COVID-19.