SingStrong: Strong Lungs Through Song - Long COVID-19 Study

University of Limerick30 enrolled

Overview

Evidence is emerging that many individuals who recover from Covid-19 are experiencing a range of residual problems. These include fatigue, pain, reduced exercise tolerance and breathing issues. This study includes participants who are experiencing problems with their lungs such as breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, and/or reduced exercise tolerance. The intervention is a twice weekly singing and breathing retraining intervention conducted over ten weeks. A range of self-report questionnaire measures will evaluate the efficacy of the intervention in addressing these problems. Focus groups and individual interviews will also be used to gather information on the impact and acceptability of the programme.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Long Covid

Interventions

Participants who have been clinically diagnosed with Covid-19 and who continue to suffer residual adverse effects on the lung health will be invited to participate in the study. The intervention will involve biweekly hour-long breathing and singing classes that are designed to correct dis-ordered breathing, and retrain the principal muscles of respiration. Pre and post evaluation of participant bio-psychosocial health and wellness will be conducted. Triangulation of data using focus groups and individual interviews will be conducted after conclusion of the intervention,

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Previous clinical diagnosis of Covid-19 * Ongoing issues with any or all of: Shortness of breath, disordered breathing, reduced exercise tolerance * Good written and spoken English language Exclusion Criteria: * Lack of a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis * Currently undergoing a similar singing or breathing retraining intervention * No residual problems from a confirmed case of Covid-19

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Covid-19 Yorkshire Rehab Screen (C19YRS)

The C19YRS was developed as a screening tool to monitor long-term symptoms due to Covid-19. The screening tool covers 19 items which combines yes/no answers and an 11 point ordinal scale (0-10) where a higher score denotes increased symptom severity.

Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

DePaul Symptom Questionnaire - Short Form DSQ - SF

The DPSQ -SF assesses key symptoms of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome such as fatigue, post-exertional malaise, sleep, pain, neurological/cognitive impairments and autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune symptoms. At each item, participants have to rate the frequency and severity of the symptom on a scale from 0 to 4. A higher score denotes increased symptom severity.