Study Procedure
As part of TheraSurv Post-COVID, medical data and information on treatments used for Post-COVID syndrome are documented by physicians treating patients with Post-COVID in a digital case record. The case record was developed in collaboration with the Institute for Digital Health Data (IDG). In contrast, patients document their health status themselves once a week using a smartphone app. Patients are given access to the free TheraSurv app via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. At the beginning of the study and subsequently once a week, the app collects information on health status, symptoms, and changes in treatment. With the patient's consent, the data are also transferred to the digital case record, where they can be accessed by the treating physicians.
TheraSurv Post-COVID Participation
Post-COVID patients aged 18 years or older who are receiving treatment at one of the five Post-COVID outpatient clinics in Rhineland-Palatinate are eligible to participate: List of Outpatient Clinics. In the future, additional healthcare facilities providing treatment for Post-COVID – ranging from general practices to rehabilitation clinics – are also expected to participate.
During a regular medical appointment, your physician will provide you with information about the TheraSurv Post-COVID project. To participate, you must provide written informed consent for data to be collected via the digital case record and smartphone app. Consent is obtained at the participating medical practices. Your physicians treating you for Post-COVID document information on examinations performed, newly diagnosed conditions, as well as the type, dosage, and duration of prescribed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments (e.g. occupational therapy) in a digital case record. In addition, you will be asked to use a smartphone app specifically developed for TheraSurv to provide information about your health status, current symptoms, and any changes in your Post-COVID treatment once at the beginning of the study and subsequently once a week.
Based on the funding currently available, participation in TheraSurv Post-COVID is initially possible for up to 20 months.
Participation in TheraSurv Post-COVID is voluntary and can be discontinued at any time via the app or by contacting the Information Office directly. The collected data are stored in pseudonymized form and used exclusively for scientific purposes. Any published results are anonymized and do not allow individual participants to be identified.
Your Contribution to Research
By participating, you contribute to a better understanding of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments used for Post-COVID and thereby help improve the quality of treatment for people affected by Post-COVID. If you consent to this procedure, the information on your health status that you provide weekly via the app will be made available to your treating physician.
The TheraSurv-App
Once you have provided written informed consent to participate in the study, you will receive your login details for the TheraSurv app. To participate, you will need a smartphone with an up-to-date operating system (iOS or Android) and a stable internet connection to download the app and complete the questionnaires. The app is available free of charge from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. If technical issues or other circumstances prevent you from using the app, please contact our technical support. We will be happy to assist you with any technical issues.
The TheraSurv app is not a medical app. It collects data exclusively for research purposes. No diagnoses are made and no treatment is provided through the app.