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Scientific Presentations

As results emerge from the LOCOMOTION study, members of the study team present findings through scientific presentations, conference talks, and posters. The aim of these are to share learning and results with colleagues in the relevant field of work. The following presentations have taken place so far, and more will be added as results from the LOCOMOTION study continue to emerge as the study progresses:

Icon of a person conducting a scientific presentation

Long COVID Specific vocational rehabilitation. Phase 1: Scoping and Development – OT Show Poster Presentation (November 2022)

The LOCOMOTION work package 1.4 ‘Vocational Rehabilitation’ team (Prof Rory O’Connor, Amy Parkin, Sareeta Baley, Annette Rolls) created a poster for the Occupational Therapy (OT) Show 2022, which was presented at the event by Sareeta and Annette.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POSTER

The poster showed the current themes that have emerged through thematic analysis. They were demonstrated visually through the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model. The PEO showed the facilitators and barriers of returning to work or maintaining a job. The themes shown were from patients, health care professionals, and employers. Annette and Sareeta pointed out that the Patient Advisory Group involvement was crucial through all stages of the process and was clearly shown on the poster. They discussed with the audience current findings and the ultimate aim of piloting a vocational rehabilitation programme. As well as developing resources in collaboration with Long COVID clinics.

The 1.4 team aim to present findings and outcomes throughout 2023. By attending conferences including RCOT 2023 and the OT Show 2023.

LOCOMOTION Conference / Away Day (June 2023)

At the LOCOMOTION 'Away Day' in June 2023, work package (WP) teams presented some of their current findings to the wider study team. The content of these presentations are described below. Presentation recordings that are available for viewing are linked in the presentation titles.

Quality Improvement in Long COVID Clinics. (WP1.1 - Quality Improvement)

  • Trish Greenhalgh explained how the methodology of our quality improvement work in the study has been revised and adapted in response to findings of the initial work.
  • Methodology has shifted from a Quality Improvement Collaborative model to interviews with clinic staff and attending Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings at the Long COVID clinics to gather findings.
  • In the presentation, Trish outlined the key findings from this work and its implications.

Long COVID & Health Inequalities: Inclusive Practice in Treatment/Support. (WP1.3 - Health Inequalities)

  • Jordan Mullard outlined the rationale of this work package which is coproducing clinical best practice with people who have limited access to/poorer outcomes from LC clinics. The research has involved interviews with people not accessing LC clinics from excluded/high risk groups and with experts that have relevant experience.
  • Jordan presented findings on the key barriers to accessing LC clinics and the impact of LC on these people. Findings on the attitudes to LC, in terms of healthcare practice and government policy, were also presented.
  • Inequalities that have been identified by the Locomotion LC clinics were outlined, in addition to examples of good practice, in terms of referral and clinic access, that have been found in these clinics.

Defining the Vocational Rehabilitation Need in LC. (WP1.4 - Vocational Rehabilitation)

  • Rory O'Connor gave a talk about what vocational rehabilitation is and the impact of LC on workability and the economy. This led into the aims of this study work package to understand the vocational rehabilitation need in LC and develop a programme that supports return to work and reduce work instability.
  • Rory outlined the interview methodology of the study and presented the interview findings of vocational rehabilitation needs in LC. Themes included; the return to work process, the biggest return to work challenges, and the uncertainty of their future.

Digital Home-Monitoring for Capturing Daily Fluctuation of Symptoms: A Longitudinal Repeated Measures Study. (WP2.1 - Home Monitoring of LC Symptoms)

  • Helen Dawes and Mae Mansoubi outlined the methodology of this work package that is using smartphone apps and wearable sensors to capture symptom fluctuations in real-time, alongside the recording of physical activity.
  • They also outlined the methodology of their sub-studies, 1) exploring the potential to use measuring heart rate and heart rate variability as feedback for clinical purposes, and 2) assess the usability and acceptability of using home monitoring of triggers and symptoms of LC at clinic appointments.
  • As the data collection is still ongoing, Helen presented data on the characteristics of the participant cohort, regarding their variety in age, sex, ethnicity, employment status, etc. This data was also compared between participants who were recruited through the LC clinics and those recruited via social media, to determine if these cohorts differ.

Assessment & Validation of the Modified C19-YRS Patient Reported Outcome Measure. (WP2.2 - Patient Reported Outcome Measures)

  • Mike Horton provided an outline of what the C19-YRS questionnaire is and how it was developed into the modified version. He explained the aim of this study to psychometrically assess and validate the modified version of the questionnaire, and the process for this.
  • Mike presented findings from the questionnaire validation, in terms of how the response category structure is functioning and whether there is any evidence of Differential Item Functioning between different patient groups.
  • Following Mike's presentation, there were some questions from the audience - which can be viewed in this Q&A recording.

Statistical Analysis of Study Population. (WP3.1 - Pathway Development)

  • Denys Prociuk presented preliminary LC data extracted from a database of over 3.5 million patients. He explained the process of identifying people with LC from this large dataset using codes, and outline the demographics of those with LC and their prevalence of comorbidities in comparison to the general population.
  • Denys also presented data on the trajectories LC diagnosis and LC clinic referrals over time. The presentation also included an analysis of the time between LC diagnosis and referral to a clinic, the number of secondary care appointments for patients before and after LC diagnosis, and the figures of readmittance following any secondary care appointment for LC patients.

Using ELAROS Data to Obtain Health Economic Parameters. (WP3.2 - Pathway Cost-effectiveness)

  • Joseph Kwon outlined the methodology of this work package that has collected Health Economics Questionnaire data on the ELAROS digital platform, at baseline and follow-up. Data collected includes services received, health and social care utilisation, informal caregiver burden, and productivity.
  • Joseph presented the preliminary analysis results on the productivity and informal caregiver impact of LC. Results showed changes in changes in paid work status, work performance, and monthly work income, and the comparison of these figures with other populations.
  • The presentation also included data on the monetary values of productivity loss and informal care receipt from LC. It concluded with information about the future analyses of the work package on health & social care costs and longitudinal trajectories.

Long Covid: What needs to happen next? (July 2023)

An online webinar organised by Long Covid Support with North Thames NIHR Clinical Research Network and Long Covid Scotland, was hosted to discuss where we (Long COVID community) are in terms of research and clinical care for Long COVID in the UK, where we need to get to, and how we will get there. Members of the LOCOMOTION team were speakers at the event and their presentations are linked below.

Economic Impact of Long COVID

  • Joseph Kwon, Health Economist working on the LOCOMOTION study, presented the preliminary analysis results on the productivity and informal caregiver impact of LC.
  • His results showed changes in changes in paid work status, work performance, and monthly work income, and the comparison of these figures with other populations.

Worker's Experiences of Long COVID

  • Dr Jenny Ceolta-Smith, who works with our Patient Advisory Group, presented Trades Union Congress and Long COVID Support survey findings on personal financial impact and social security experiences of people with Long COVID.
  • She also presented findings on people's experiences of the Department for Work and Pensions, from LOCOMOTION's Vocational Rehabilitation in Long COVID work package.

Implementing Research into Clinical Practice

  • Professor Trish Greenhalgh presented how and why her work in the LOCOMOTION study has shifted from a Quality Improvement Collaborative methodology  to interviews with clinic staff and attending Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings at the Long COVID clinics to gather findings.
  • In the presentation, Trish outlined the key findings from this work so far and its implications.