Complementary and Integrative Medicine as an Online Intervention in Patients With Post-covid Syndrome After COVID-19

Inclusion criteria: Acute SARS-CoV2 infection at least 12 weeks ago (documented by PCR test results or SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) History of chronic fatigue (after SARS-CoV-2 infection) At least 3 of 7 criteria fulfilled at the time of inclusion: sleep disturbance, headache, joint pain/muscle pain, anxiety/depression, memory impairment/concentration disturbance, postexertional malaise, dysosmia/anosmia Numerical Rating Scale (NRS, 0-10 points, 0 = not able to exercise at all; 10 = full exercise capacity) physical exercise capacity of max. 6 points ("What is your physical exercise capacity on average over the last 7 days?") Short Form-36 Physical Function Subscale (SF-36 PFS) of maximum 65 points Patient are technically equipped enough to participate in the online intervention and willing to follow the study procedure to perform the online intervention at home Exclusion criteria: Fatigue already present before SARS-CoV-2 infection Presence of severe post-exertional malaise (PEM) (according to DSQ-PEM tool question 7 OR 8 with yes AND >14h condition worsening) Other underlying conditions leading to symptoms of chronic fatigue, such as unstable mental illness, oncological disease(s), MS, fibromyalgia, and substance abuse Other serious underlying medical conditions, such as severe pulmonary, cardiac, psychiatric, or infectious diseases that could interfere with study participation or affect results • Ongoing opioid therapy or opioid therapy in the week prior to study entry Regular use of cannabinoids or other illicit drugs in the month prior to or during the study Restarting or discontinuing psychotherapy during study participation in the 6 weeks prior to study entry Pregnancy or breastfeeding Participation in another clinical intervention study during study participation 1 Regular use of Complementary and Integrative Medicine self-help measures (e.g. meditation, Kneipp hydrotherapiy, etc.) within the study period Current pension procedure or planned claiming of a pension procedure due to disability Planned rehabilitation measures during study participation due to post-COVID syndrome Inclusion and exclusion criteria of the sub-study focus group interviews with physicians Inclusion criteria: Family physicians and general practitioners Regular outpatient care of patients with post-covid syndrome Willingness in principle to participate in a 2-hour interview on-site or online Exclusion criteria: • No previous care of post-covid patients