Acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support people living with long COVID, 2024, Burton et al.

Acceptability and feasibility of a theatre-based wellness programme to support people living with long COVID: a single-arm feasibility study
Alexandra Burton; Jessica K Bone; Kate Lawrence-Lunniss; Keir EJ Philip

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.


Link | PDF (BMJ Open) [Open Access]

 

Literally healthcare theatre.

 

So, zero difference with any random alternative medicine that happens to feature some group entertainment. Or an actual circus. Given that the problem is not psychosocial issues, how is that any relevant here? The problem is symptoms and how disabling they are. This is worthless BS.

But they'll talk about avoiding support groups and online communities. Unless they run them, of course.

Great use of very expensive health care resources there. This is really the kind of stuff that people should go and study 10 years, at a cost of $1M each, to accomplish. It follows the standard set by Wessely's entire career, summed as: it may be of help to some. Of what help? Definitely not the kind that's needed, but they don't care much about that.