Burton, Alexandra; Bone, Jessica K; Lawrence-Lunniss, Kate; Philip, Keir EJ; (2024) Acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support people living with long COVID: a single-arm feasibility study. BMJ Open , 14 (6) , Article e083224. 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083224.

Preview

Text Burton_e083224.full.pdf Download (393kB) | Preview

Abstract

Objectives: To determine acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support the health and well-being of people with long COVID. Design: Single-group, repeated-measures feasibility study. Setting: Community centre and online. Participants: Adults with diagnosed long COVID experiencing breathlessness, pain and/or loneliness. Intervention: Six-week participatory creative programme delivered to one online and one in-person group facilitated by movement, voice and drama consultants using breathing, visualisation, singing, poetry, storytelling and movement exercises. Primary outcome measures: Programme acceptability and feasibility measured via uptake, reasons for non-attendance and barriers to engagement. Secondary outcome measures: Feasibility of recruitment and data collection procedures measured through proportion of missing data and follow-up rates, mechanisms of action of the programme identified through qualitative interviews, changes in mental health, well-being, quality of life, loneliness, social support, fatigue, breathlessness and post-COVID-19 functional status at 8-week follow-up. Results: 21 people expressed interest in participating, 20 people took part in the programme, 19 completed baseline and 16 completed follow-up assessments. Participants attended an average of 4.8 of 6 sessions (SD=1.5, range 2–6). Exploratory analyses demonstrated significant improvements in self-rated health (t-test mean difference=0.12, 95% CI=0.00, 0.23, p=0.04) and chronic fatigue symptoms (mean difference=−3.50, 95% CI=−6.97, –0.03, p=0.05) at 8 weeks. Key mechanisms of action that supported health and well-being included: increased sense of community, illness acceptance, experiencing joy, increased confidence in managing everyday life, increased ability to relax and reconnection with previous identity. Barriers to engagement included: activities being outside of the participant's comfort zone, ongoing long COVID symptoms, emotional consequences of sharing experiences and connectivity and connecting online. Conclusions: A 6-week theatre-based programme was perceived as acceptable to most participants and resulted in some positive psychosocial impacts. The findings provide a rationale for supporting the ongoing development and scale-up of this and related arts programmes to support people living with long COVID.

Download activity - last month

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item