Long Covid and health inequalities: what next for research and policy advocacy?

Sarah Akhtar Baz; Mirembe  Woodrow; Donna Clutterbuck; Chao Fang; Jordan Mullard; Amitava Banerjee; Sarah Barley-McMullen; JD Carpentieri; Anne-Laure Donskoy; Alice Faux-Nightingale; Sarah Lewis-Jackson; Margaret E O'Hara; Tanvi Rai; Ondine Sherwood; Nina Smyth; Kirsty Stanley; Victoria Welsh; Ghazala Mir; Nisreen A Alwan

doi:10.1111/hex.70047

Long Covid and health inequalities: what next for research and policy advocacy?

Sarah Akhtar Baz, Mirembe Woodrow, Donna Clutterbuck, Chao Fang, Jordan Mullard, Amitava Banerjee, Sarah Barley-McMullen, JD Carpentieri, Anne-Laure Donskoy, Alice Faux-Nightingale, Sarah Lewis-Jackson, Margaret E O'Hara, Tanvi Rai, Ondine Sherwood, Nina Smyth, Kirsty Stanley, Victoria Welsh, Ghazala Mir, Nisreen A Alwan

Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Organised by the Qualitative Long Covid Network, a workshop of qualitative Long Covid (LC) researchers, LC charity representatives and people with LC took place in June 2023 where research on the intersectional inequalities affecting LC prevalence, recognition and care was shared and discussed.

Methods: Five key themes were drawn up from presentations, discussions and reflections during the workshop and are presented here.

Results: The following five themes are discussed: the unfairness of LC; difficulties accessing care; mistrust of the healthcare system; lack of understanding of LC; and experience of stigma and discrimination. Factors that widen or narrow inequalities in LC were identified.

Conclusion: A call for action is proposed on investigating and addressing inequality through a robust LC research agenda that speaks with conviction to policy and decision-makers. We argue there needs to be strong investment in research and evidence-based policy and practice that mitigates the worst effects of the condition and addresses inequalities in experience, treatment and support, which are experienced more often and more acutely by some of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Patient and Public (PPI) Contribution: Projects included in this article had PPI ongoing activity informing their research. A member of the CONVALESCENCE PPI group presented at the QLC Network ‘Long Covid and Health Inequalities’ workshop, as did members of Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support and Long Covid SOS charities. All were invited to be co-authors of this article

Original language	English
Article number	e70047
Journal	Health Expectations
Volume	27
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70047
Publication status	Published - 2 Oct 2024

Bibliographical note

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Health Expectations - 2024 - Baz - Long COVID and Health Inequalities What s Next for Research and Policy Advocacy
© 2024 The Author(s)
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Cite this

Baz, S. A., Woodrow, M., Clutterbuck, D., Fang, C., Mullard, J., Banerjee, A., Barley-McMullen, S., Carpentieri, JD., Donskoy, A.-L., Faux-Nightingale, A., Lewis-Jackson, S., O'Hara, M. E., Rai, T., Sherwood, O., Smyth, N., Stanley, K., Welsh, V., Mir, G., & Alwan, N. A. (2024). Long Covid and health inequalities: what next for research and policy advocacy? Health Expectations, 27(5), Article e70047. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70047

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title = "Long Covid and health inequalities: what next for research and policy advocacy?",

abstract = "Introduction: Organised by the Qualitative Long Covid Network, a workshop of qualitative Long Covid (LC) researchers, LC charity representatives and people with LC took place in June 2023 where research on the intersectional inequalities affecting LC prevalence, recognition and care was shared and discussed. Methods: Five key themes were drawn up from presentations, discussions and reflections during the workshop and are presented here.Results: The following five themes are discussed: the unfairness of LC; difficulties accessing care; mistrust of the healthcare system; lack of understanding of LC; and experience of stigma and discrimination. Factors that widen or narrow inequalities in LC were identified. Conclusion: A call for action is proposed on investigating and addressing inequality through a robust LC research agenda that speaks with conviction to policy and decision-makers. We argue there needs to be strong investment in research and evidence-based policy and practice that mitigates the worst effects of the condition and addresses inequalities in experience, treatment and support, which are experienced more often and more acutely by some of society{\textquoteright}s most vulnerable and disadvantaged.Patient and Public (PPI) Contribution: Projects included in this article had PPI ongoing activity informing their research. A member of the CONVALESCENCE PPI group presented at the QLC Network {\textquoteleft}Long Covid and Health Inequalities{\textquoteright} workshop, as did members of Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support and Long Covid SOS charities. All were invited to be co-authors of this article",

author = "Baz, {Sarah Akhtar} and Mirembe Woodrow and Donna Clutterbuck and Chao Fang and Jordan Mullard and Amitava Banerjee and Sarah Barley-McMullen and JD Carpentieri and Anne-Laure Donskoy and Alice Faux-Nightingale and Sarah Lewis-Jackson and O'Hara, {Margaret E} and Tanvi Rai and Ondine Sherwood and Nina Smyth and Kirsty Stanley and Victoria Welsh and Ghazala Mir and Alwan, {Nisreen A}",

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Baz, SA, Woodrow, M, Clutterbuck, D, Fang, C, Mullard, J, Banerjee, A, Barley-McMullen, S, Carpentieri, JD, Donskoy, A-L, Faux-Nightingale, A, Lewis-Jackson, S, O'Hara, ME, Rai, T, Sherwood, O, Smyth, N, Stanley, K, Welsh, V, Mir, G & Alwan, NA 2024, 'Long Covid and health inequalities: what next for research and policy advocacy?', Health Expectations, vol. 27, no. 5, e70047. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70047

TY - JOUR

T1 - Long Covid and health inequalities

T2 - what next for research and policy advocacy?

AU - Baz, Sarah Akhtar

AU - Woodrow, Mirembe

AU - Clutterbuck, Donna

AU - Fang, Chao

AU - Mullard, Jordan

AU - Banerjee, Amitava

AU - Barley-McMullen, Sarah

AU - Carpentieri, JD

AU - Donskoy, Anne-Laure

AU - Faux-Nightingale, Alice

AU - Lewis-Jackson, Sarah

AU - O'Hara, Margaret E

AU - Rai, Tanvi

AU - Sherwood, Ondine

AU - Smyth, Nina

AU - Stanley, Kirsty

AU - Welsh, Victoria

AU - Mir, Ghazala

AU - Alwan, Nisreen A

PY - 2024/10/2

Y1 - 2024/10/2

N2 - Introduction: Organised by the Qualitative Long Covid Network, a workshop of qualitative Long Covid (LC) researchers, LC charity representatives and people with LC took place in June 2023 where research on the intersectional inequalities affecting LC prevalence, recognition and care was shared and discussed. Methods: Five key themes were drawn up from presentations, discussions and reflections during the workshop and are presented here.Results: The following five themes are discussed: the unfairness of LC; difficulties accessing care; mistrust of the healthcare system; lack of understanding of LC; and experience of stigma and discrimination. Factors that widen or narrow inequalities in LC were identified. Conclusion: A call for action is proposed on investigating and addressing inequality through a robust LC research agenda that speaks with conviction to policy and decision-makers. We argue there needs to be strong investment in research and evidence-based policy and practice that mitigates the worst effects of the condition and addresses inequalities in experience, treatment and support, which are experienced more often and more acutely by some of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged.Patient and Public (PPI) Contribution: Projects included in this article had PPI ongoing activity informing their research. A member of the CONVALESCENCE PPI group presented at the QLC Network ‘Long Covid and Health Inequalities’ workshop, as did members of Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support and Long Covid SOS charities. All were invited to be co-authors of this article

AB - Introduction: Organised by the Qualitative Long Covid Network, a workshop of qualitative Long Covid (LC) researchers, LC charity representatives and people with LC took place in June 2023 where research on the intersectional inequalities affecting LC prevalence, recognition and care was shared and discussed. Methods: Five key themes were drawn up from presentations, discussions and reflections during the workshop and are presented here.Results: The following five themes are discussed: the unfairness of LC; difficulties accessing care; mistrust of the healthcare system; lack of understanding of LC; and experience of stigma and discrimination. Factors that widen or narrow inequalities in LC were identified. Conclusion: A call for action is proposed on investigating and addressing inequality through a robust LC research agenda that speaks with conviction to policy and decision-makers. We argue there needs to be strong investment in research and evidence-based policy and practice that mitigates the worst effects of the condition and addresses inequalities in experience, treatment and support, which are experienced more often and more acutely by some of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged.Patient and Public (PPI) Contribution: Projects included in this article had PPI ongoing activity informing their research. A member of the CONVALESCENCE PPI group presented at the QLC Network ‘Long Covid and Health Inequalities’ workshop, as did members of Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support and Long Covid SOS charities. All were invited to be co-authors of this article

U2 - 10.1111/hex.70047

DO - 10.1111/hex.70047

M3 - Article

SN - 1369-6513

VL - 27

JO - Health Expectations

JF - Health Expectations

IS - 5

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ER -