2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research
Forum Sessions, Recordings, & Slides:
Overview & Aims of the Forum
Watch the recording here.
Presented by Jill Cameron (Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy) & Kelly O’Brien (Department of Physical Therapy), Co-Directors, Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID, University of Toronto.
Featuring:
- Welcome from Long COVID Physio by Todd Davenport, Chair, Long COVID Physio, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California
- Welcome from Long COVID Web by Angela Cheung, Co-Lead, Long COVID Web, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario
Keynote Session #2 – Panel Discussion: Community engagement in rehabilitation research – a year in review
Watch the recording here!
Aim of Session: To build capacity learning from persons with lived experiences about their experiences and perspectives engaging in COVID rehabilitation research, to reflect on the PLRC score cards (1 year on) and to discuss recommendations, considerations and best practices for engaging in COVID rehabilitation research.
Panelists: Margaret O’Hara (Long COVID Support UK); Linda Li (Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia); Hannah Wei (Patient Led Research Collaborative and Advisory Committee); Sammie McFarland (Long COVID Kids and Advisory Committee); Susie Goulding (COVID Long Haulers Support Group Canada and Advisory Committee); Mark Rutledge (Advisory Committee member); Lindsay Skipper (Long COVID Physio, UK)
Moderator: Kiera McDuff (Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID)
Research Evidence Session Part 1 – Health and Disability across Acute and Long COVID Illness Trajectories
Aim of Session: To foster knowledge transfer and exchange on evidence related to 1) understanding experiences of episodic disability; and 2) assessing episodic disability.
Untold Stories of Immigrants with Disabilities Navigating Health and Rehabilitation Services During COVID-19 in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Chavon Niles, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto
From Isolation to Integration: Unveiling the Multifaceted Work Challenges Faced by Individuals with Systematic Lupus Erythematosus in the Wake of COVID-19 (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
A scoping review of interventions and recommendations for enhancing work ability and facilitating return-to-work for individuals living with Long COVID (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Victor Ezeugwu, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Therapy, University of Alberta
Research Evidence Session Part 2 – Rehabilitation across Acute COVID-19 and Long COVID Care Continuums
Aim of Session: To foster knowledge transfer and exchange on evidence related to COVID Rehabilitation research, specifically; i) identifying and examining safe approaches to rehabilitation; ii) examining the role, implementation and impact of models of rehabilitation care, iii) assessing access to safe, timely and appropriate rehabilitation and other health care provider services.
Embracing the idea that "less can be more" in long COVID rehabilitation (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Diana Sanchez-Ramirez, Assistant Professor, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba
“It’s a moving target”: Pacing as strategy to reduce symptom exacerbation – results from an international community-engaged study of adults living with Long COVID (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Kiera McDuff, Program Coordinator, Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID, University of Toronto
Symptom-Targeted Rehabilitation for Cognitive Complaints in Long COVID Clinical Trials (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Susan Viola, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
‘The Long COVID Education and Awareness Hub:’ A public-facing resource webpage (Access the slides here!)
Presented by: Jaylyn Leighton, Post-doctoral Fellow, St. John’s Rehab, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
Keynote Session #3 – Panel: Bridging Research Evidence with Real World: Community, Clinical and Policy Perspectives on Navigating the Maze of the Continuum of Care, Living with Long COVID
Watch the recording here! Read Nisa Malli's opening presentation here!
Panelists: Nisa Malli (Patient Led Research Collaborative); Chester Ho (MD, University of Alberta); Adam Brown (PT, Cornerstone Physiotherapy); Jessica DeMars (PT, Breathe Well Physio); Michelle DiLauro (OT, Toronto Rehab Institute, University Health Network); Helen Skiffington (OT, Long COVID Physio, UK); Alexandra Rendely (MD, University Health Network)
Moderator: Katie Churchill (Rehabilitative Care Alliance)
Click here to access a playlist with all recordings from the
Click here to access the 2024 Forum Report
Overview of 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research:
The Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID hosted the 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research on Friday April 19th. The Forum was held in hybrid format (accessible via Zoom or in-person in Toronto, Ontario) on Friday April 19, 2024 from 9:30am – 4:30pm EDT at the University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue (Rm 140).
The Forum included over 25 presenters from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Presentations included three Keynotes and two Research Evidence Sessions. Keynote Session 1 delivered by Dr. Mark Faghy was entitled, Unlocking the mystery of Post-Exertional Malaise in Long COVID… This Keynote presentation is supported by Long COVID Web Keynote Session 2 was a panel discussion entitled, Community engagement in rehabilitation research – a year in review. The aim of this panel discussion was to build capacity by learning from persons with lived experiences about their experiences and perspectives engaging in COVID rehabilitation research, and to discuss recommendations, considerations and best practices for research moving forward. Keynote Session 3 was a panel discussion entitled, Bridging Research Evidence with Real World: Community, Clinical and Policy Perspectives on Navigating the Maze of the Continuum of Care, Living with Long COVID. The aim of this panel discussion was to highlight translation of research to practice from an interdisciplinary perspective, centering a case study presented by a panelist living with Long COVID.
Keynote Speakers and Panelists at the 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research
Poster and Abstract Awardees at the 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research
The first Research Evidence Session focused on Health and Disability across Acute and Long COVID Illness Trajectories. The second Research Evidence Session focused on Rehabilitation across Acute COVID-19 and Long COVID Care Continuums.
A new feature of this year's Forum is that there were 9 posters presented as part of the Forum program. Three awards were administered to poster presenters on behalf of the Network. Kriti Agarwal et al. won the People's Choice Award for their poster, Participant Satisfaction with a Virtual Rehabilitation Program in Long COVID; Nadine Akbar et al. won the Best Abstract Award for their poster, Experiences living with Long COVID among racialized communities in Canada; and Chantal Lin et al. won the Best Trainee Abstract Award for their poster, Long COVID and Rehabilitation: Experiences of Physical Therapists in Canada.
The Forum provided an opportunity for speakers and attendees to respond to current research evidence and present new and emerging research evidence and experiences of COVID rehabilitation. Structured discussions and Q&A segments enabled participation throughout the day and facilitators engaged attendees both in-person and online, while adhering to the agenda. Overall, the 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research was a successful event that built on feedback received from last year’s inaugural Forum. Links to the Forum presentations are available on the Network YouTube Channel.
Click here for the program at-a-glance
The aims of this forum were to:
1) Facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) in the field of rehabilitation research related to COVID-19, clinical practice and service delivery among persons with lived experiences and affected by COVID-19, including acute COVID-19, and Long COVID, researchers, caregivers, clinicians, educators, trainees, representatives of community organizations and policy stakeholders in Canada and internationally;
2) Establish new and strengthen existing research collaborations and partnerships in the field of COVID-19 rehabilitation;
3) Foster mentorship and training in COVID-19 rehabilitation research among faculty, clinicians and trainees; and
4) Identify new and emerging research priorities in COVID-19 rehabilitation research and practice.
Acknowledgements:
The 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research and the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID are funded by Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
The 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is hosted in collaboration with Long COVID Web. Thank you to Long COVID Web for supporting the Keynote presentation by Dr. Mark Faghy!
The 2024 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is hosted in collaboration with Long COVID Physio.