Management of Long COVID in primary care

This project aims to investigate what an optimal Long COVID service located in primary care encompasses, using a co-design methodology.

Research seeking participants

Are you an individual living (or have lived) with Long COVID or caring/cared for someone who is?

Let's come together for a kōrero that matters. Join us for a two-hour workshop (with breaks as needed). Travel costs will be covered.

We'd love to hear your story, focusing on the services you've experienced or perhaps the ones you hoped for but missed out on. Let's work together to make a positive impact on the Long COVID community.

We'd love for you to join our workshop.

Email longcovid@vuw.ac.nz

#YourStoryMatters #LivingWithLongCOVID

This research has been approved by the Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee [Application Number 0000031249].

A female doctor resting their hand on a patient’s shoulder.

It is widely recognised that primary care plays a considerable role in managing Long COVID. The need for such services in Aotearoa New Zealand is evident. It is essential that these services are developed in collaboration with people living with Long COVID, and with Māori to ensure that these services are accessible.

This study employs a co-design partnership model involving stakeholders working with researchers. The fundamental tent to this approach is to place people with lived experience of Long COVID at the centre of the service design processes. This methodology also helps us understand the inequities and cultural values specific to Māori and Pacific communities.

Study objectives

We will organise six exploratory workshops across Aotearoa New Zealand, and invite individuals with lived experiences of Long COVID, along with their whānau/caregivers to discuss their journey and the services they have received. These workshops will provide an overview of areas where primary care services can be improved to better support those living with Long COVID.
We will continue with co-design team meetings using an iterative approach to explore the needs of individuals with Long COVID, make collaborative decisions between patients, healthcare professionals and researchers and test pilot ideas with people with lived experience of Long COVID.

Study output

The result of this co-design process will be a ‘service blueprint’. This blueprint will outline the essential elements stakeholders consider core components of managing Long COVID in primary care.