The REACH-OUT study examined the long-term impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds across the UK. Building on the UK-REACH project, researchers investigated how common Long Covid is, who is most affected, and the impact on health, wellbeing and work. The report can be accessed below.
The study found that 22.5% of healthcare workers who had been infected with COVID-19 reported Long Covid. Older healthcare workers, nurses and allied health professionals were more likely to experience Long Covid, while no significant differences in risk were found between ethnic groups. Symptoms persisted for more than six months in almost one in ten participants.
The authors highlight the need for better support for healthcare workers living with Long Covid, including access to specialist healthcare, flexible working arrangements, financial support and targeted occupational health interventions. They also call for continued research and culturally appropriate support to ensure all healthcare workers can access the help they need.
More than 1 in 10 of 1,496 US healthcare personnel reported the same moderate or severe symptom at both three and six months after COVID-19. Read the findings, limitations and what they may mean for SHH-UK readers.
Join SHH-UK’s online support groups for healthcare workers with Long Covid this October and November. Connect, chat and share with others.
A large US study of almost 2,000 children and adolescents found that those meeting the research threshold for probable Long COVID were more likely to experience difficulties with grades, attention and participation with friends.
