Effectiveness of ReCOVery APP to improve the quality of life of Long COVID patients: a 6-month follow-up randomized clinical trial

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to analyse the clinical efficacy of medium-term telerehabilitation in the recovery of patients with Long COVID using ReCOVery APP, administered in the Primary Health Care (PHC) setting. The second objective is to identify significant patterns associated with an improvement in their quality of life predicted by other study variables. To this end, a randomised clinical trial was conducted with two parallel groups of a total of 100 patients with Long COVID. The control group continued with their usual treatment (TAU), established by their primary care physician. The intervention group, in addition to continuing with their TAU, attended three sessions based on motivational methodology and used ReCOVery APP for six months. The main variable was quality of life. The results of this study concluded that ReCOVery APP was not significantly more effective in improving the quality of life of patients with Long COVID. There was low adherence of participants. However, linear regression analyses revealed significant patterns of improvement in overall quality of life and mental health predicted by time of use of the APP and the personal construct of self-efficacy. In addition, all participants significantly improved their physical and mental health over the duration of the intervention. In conclusion, meaningful use of the ReCOVery APP may contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with Long COVID, but strategies to improve adherence need to be encouraged.