Background: Post-COVID-Syndrome (PCS) poses enormous clinical challenges. Occupational therapy (OT) is recommended in PCS, but structural validation of this concept is pending. Methods: In an unblinded randomized pilot study (clinical trial # DRKS0026007), feasibility and effects of online OT in PCS were tested. Probands received structured online OT over 12 weeks either via interactive online treatment sessions (interactive group) or prerecorded videos (video group). 50% of probands received no online OT (control group). At week 0, 12, and 24, we analyzed study experience, health-related quality of life, and impairment in performance, participation, and cognitive functions. Results: N=158 probands (mean age 38 yrs., 86% female) were included into the analyses. 83.3% of probands in the interactive versus 48.1% of probands in the video group described their study experience as positive or very positive (p=0.001). After 12 weeks, all groups displayed significant improvement in concentration, memory, and performance of daily tasks. After 24 weeks, significant improvement in concentration and memory were observed in control- and video-probands, and social participation had improved after video-OT. However, only probands that had received interactive online OT showed improvement of all measured endpoints including concentration, memory, quality of life, and social participation. Conclusion: We show that online OT is feasible and that interactive online OT is a promising treatment strategy for affected patients. We present exploratory data on its efficacy and describe variables that can be employed for further investigations in confirmatory trials.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

The study was registered at the German Registry for Clinical Trials (trial number DRKS00026007).

DOI:10.2196/preprints.50230

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The study protocol was approved by responsible research ethics boards of all participating centers (Hannover Medical School #9948_BO_K_2021, University Medical Center Göttingen 15/8/22Ü).

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