A major new research project aims to improve long COVID outcomes in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, following growing evidence these groups face disproportionate long-term impacts from the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic receding, long COVID remains a significant public health issue around the world, with many people continuing to experience persistent symptoms such as cognitive impairment, respiratory problems and cardiovascular complications which often affect their ability to return to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early studies from international settings indicate racial and ethnic minority communities experience higher hospitalisation and morbidity associated with long COVID, which may also be reflected within Australia\u2019s CALD populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To address this, Curtin School of Population Health<\/a> Associate Professor and Head of The Kids Research Institute Australia\u2019s Geospatial and Tuberculosis Team Kefyalew Alene<\/a> will lead a $2 million research project backed by the Federal Government\u2019s Medical Research Future Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In collaboration with WA Health, CALD community leaders, physicians, program leaders and researchers the project aims to co-design evidence-based, culturally appropriate models of care which can be scaled across health systems and used to develop new national guidelines for preventing long COVID in CALD communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Associate Professor Alene said language barriers, limited health literacy and unequal access to healthcare services may contribute to elevated numbers of long COVID cases and partnering directly with CALD communities was essential to creating effective and meaningful healthcare responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLong COVID continues to affect thousands of Australians, but its burden is not shared equally,\u201d Associate Professor Alene said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy co-designing this research with community leaders, clinicians and primary care providers, we will be able to develop models of care that genuinely reflect people\u2019s lived experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur goal is to support equitable access to services and ensure that long COVID care is culturally safe, effective and sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project will also assess long-term health outcomes among CALD and non-CALD groups and evaluate existing models of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team\u2019s expertise in infectious diseases, health equity and policy translation is expected to support the rapid uptake of findings into clinical practice,\u201d Associate Professor Alene said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n