‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK
Abstract Background In October 2022, it was estimated 2.3 million people in the United Kingdom have self‐reported Long Covid (LC). Many people have reported not receiving adequate healthcare support. There is a lack of research which provides an in‐depth exploration of the barriers faced by people w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Health Expectations |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13687 |
| _version_ | 1797946593438072832 |
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| author | Sarah A. Baz Chao Fang J. D. Carpentieri Laura Sheard |
| author_facet | Sarah A. Baz Chao Fang J. D. Carpentieri Laura Sheard |
| author_sort | Sarah A. Baz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In October 2022, it was estimated 2.3 million people in the United Kingdom have self‐reported Long Covid (LC). Many people have reported not receiving adequate healthcare support. There is a lack of research which provides an in‐depth exploration of the barriers faced by people with LC in accessing healthcare support. It is important to understand these barriers to provide better support, care and advice for those experiencing LC. Objective To understand the barriers faced in accessing primary, secondary and specialist healthcare support for people with LC. Design and Participation 40 interviews were conducted with people living with LC in Bradford alongside 12 interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing LC support in Bradford healthcare settings. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results People living with LC had a large degree of difficulty in accessing healthcare services for LC support. We categorized the healthcare access experiences of participants into five main types: (1) being unable to access primary care, (2) accessing primary care but receiving (perceived) inadequate support, (3) extreme persistence, (4) alternatives to mainstream health care and (5) positive experiences. There was a severe lack of access to specialist LC services. Ethnic minority participants faced a further barrier of mistrust and fear of services deterring them from accessing support. HCPs discussed systemic barriers to delivering services. Experiences were embedded in macrostructural issues further exacerbated by the pandemic. Conclusion To better support people with LC, the barriers faced in accessing healthcare support must be addressed. Of significance, improvements to general practitioner access are required; especially as GPs are the first line of support for people living with LC. Patient and Public Involvement A patient and public involvement group is engaged at regular intervals in the project. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:14:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5ff7113774e43dd843165a3209c5075 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1369-6513 1369-7625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:14:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Expectations |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5ff7113774e43dd843165a3209c50752023-01-20T13:33:07ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252023-02-0126154255410.1111/hex.13687‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UKSarah A. Baz0Chao Fang1J. D. Carpentieri2Laura Sheard3Department of Health Sciences University of York York UKInstitute of Education University College London London UKInstitute of Education University College London London UKDepartment of Health Sciences University of York York UKAbstract Background In October 2022, it was estimated 2.3 million people in the United Kingdom have self‐reported Long Covid (LC). Many people have reported not receiving adequate healthcare support. There is a lack of research which provides an in‐depth exploration of the barriers faced by people with LC in accessing healthcare support. It is important to understand these barriers to provide better support, care and advice for those experiencing LC. Objective To understand the barriers faced in accessing primary, secondary and specialist healthcare support for people with LC. Design and Participation 40 interviews were conducted with people living with LC in Bradford alongside 12 interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing LC support in Bradford healthcare settings. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results People living with LC had a large degree of difficulty in accessing healthcare services for LC support. We categorized the healthcare access experiences of participants into five main types: (1) being unable to access primary care, (2) accessing primary care but receiving (perceived) inadequate support, (3) extreme persistence, (4) alternatives to mainstream health care and (5) positive experiences. There was a severe lack of access to specialist LC services. Ethnic minority participants faced a further barrier of mistrust and fear of services deterring them from accessing support. HCPs discussed systemic barriers to delivering services. Experiences were embedded in macrostructural issues further exacerbated by the pandemic. Conclusion To better support people with LC, the barriers faced in accessing healthcare support must be addressed. Of significance, improvements to general practitioner access are required; especially as GPs are the first line of support for people living with LC. Patient and Public Involvement A patient and public involvement group is engaged at regular intervals in the project.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13687accessethnic minorityhealthcare supportinequalityLong Covidqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Sarah A. Baz Chao Fang J. D. Carpentieri Laura Sheard ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK Health Expectations access ethnic minority healthcare support inequality Long Covid qualitative |
| title | ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK |
| title_full | ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK |
| title_fullStr | ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK |
| title_short | ‘I don't know what to do or where to go’. Experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with Long Covid and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study in Bradford, UK |
| title_sort | i don t know what to do or where to go experiences of accessing healthcare support from the perspectives of people living with long covid and healthcare professionals a qualitative study in bradford uk |
| topic | access ethnic minority healthcare support inequality Long Covid qualitative |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13687 |
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