%0 Journal Article
%@ 1929-0748
%I JMIR Publications
%V 12
%N 
%P e41010
%T The Evaluation of Health Care Services for Children and Adolescents With Post–COVID-19 Condition: Protocol for a Prospective Longitudinal Study
%A Rathgeb,Chiara
%A Pawellek,Maja
%A Behrends,Uta
%A Alberer,Martin
%A Kabesch,Michael
%A Gerling,Stephan
%A Brandstetter,Susanne
%A Apfelbacher,Christian
%+ Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str 44, Magdeburg, 39120, Germany, 49 0391 6724316, christian.apfelbacher@med.ovgu.de
%K post-COVID
%K long COVID
%K post–COVID-19 condition
%K PCC
%K post–COVID-19 syndrome
%K PCS
%K CFS/ME
%K children and adolescents
%K health care services
%K EQ-5D
%K SDQ
%K PROMIS
%K DSQ-PEM
%K COVID-19
%K pediatrics
%K child
%K adolescent
%K service delivery
%K healthcare delivery
%K healthcare service
%K care network
%K healthcare
%K therapeutic service
%K healthcare utilization
%K patient reported outcome
%D 2023
%7 11.4.2023
%9 Protocol
%J JMIR Res Protoc
%G English
%X Background: Some children and adolescents suffer from late effects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection despite a frequently mild course of the disease. Nevertheless, extensive care for post–COVID-19 condition, also known as post–COVID-19 syndrome, in children and young people is not yet available. A comprehensive care network, Post-COVID Kids Bavaria (PoCo), for children and adolescents with post–COVID-19 condition has been set up as a model project in Bavaria, Germany. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the health care services provided within this network structure of care for children and adolescents with post–COVID-19 condition in a pre-post study design. Methods: We have already recruited 117 children and adolescents aged up to 17 years with post–COVID-19 condition who were diagnosed and treated in 16 participating outpatient clinics. Health care use, treatment satisfaction, patient-reported outcomes related to health-related quality of life (the primary endpoint), fatigue, postexertional malaise, and mental health are being assessed at different time points (at baseline and after 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months) using routine data, interviews, and self-report questionnaires. Results: The study recruitment process ran from April 2022 until December 2022. Interim analyses will be carried out. A full analysis of the data will be conducted after follow-up assessment is completed, and the results will be published. Conclusions: The results will contribute to the evaluation of therapeutic services provided for post–COVID-19 condition in children and adolescents, and avenues for optimizing care may be identified. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/41010 
%M 36867709
%R 10.2196/41010
%U https://www.researchprotocols.org/2023/1/e41010
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/41010
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36867709