Project leader

• PD Dr. Anna Levke Brütt

Project coordination

• Dr. Sanny Witt

Academic researcher

• Anna Völkel, M.Sc.

Cooperation partners

• Dr. Claas Unverferth, Rehabilitation Center Oldenburg GmbH
• PD Dr. Aike Hessel, German Pension Insurance („Deutsche Rentenversicherung“) Oldenburg – Bremen
• Dr. Natalie Schüz, German Pension Insurance („Deutsche Rentenversicherung“) Oldenburg – Bremen

Duration

• 36 months (01.07.23 - 30.06.2026)

Project funding

• The project is funded by the German Pension Insurance („Deutsche Rentenversicherung”) Oldenburg-Bremen.

Project description

Infection with the coronavirus can cause severe health consequences, known as post-COVID if they are still persistent after 12 weeks. If this endangers the ability to work, there is a claim for rehabilitation services from the German Pension Insurance („Deutsche Rentenversicherung”). The Rehabilitation Center Oldenburg developed a concept for the treatment of post-COVID patients at an early stage, which is to be evaluated and further developed in an evidence-based manner within the framework of this study.

A combined quantitative and qualitative (mixed-methods) evaluation (divided into a first and a second survey phase) is planned to assess the effectiveness and realization of the post-COVID rehabilitation concept. Qualitative individual interviews will be conducted with rehabilitation patients and staff of the neurology clinic at the rehabilitation center to learn more about the implementation of the concept. The efficiency of the rehabilitation concept will be investigated by surveying rehabilitation patients as part of the quantitative approach. The primary outcome measure is the subjective quality of life at the end of the treatment.                 

In regular meetings in the context of a quality circle with the participation of the Rehabilitation Center Oldenburg and the German Pension Insurance Oldenburg-Bremen, qualitative and quantitative interim results are reported back and the post-COVID concept is further developed against the background of additional current research results.

Publikations (projekt post-COVID rehabilitation)

• Völkel A, Witt S, Heimsoth J, Friepörtner M, Unverferth C, Schüz N, Hessel A & Brütt AL (2026). A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating a Four-Week Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program: Insights and Satisfaction of Rehabilitants and Employees. J Phys Med Rehabil. 8(1):75–86. DOI: 10.33696/rehabilitation.8.067

Conference presentations (project post-COVID rehabilitation)

• Völkel, A., Witt, S., Friepörtner, M., Heimsoth, J., Hessel, A., Schüz, N., Unverferth, C. & Brütt, A.L. Wie sollte eine Post-COVID-spezifische Rehabilitationsnachsorge aussehen? – Ergebnisse qualitativer Interviews mit Rehabilitand:innen und Mitarbeitende eines Rehazentrums. Vortrag gehalten auf dem 25. Deutschen Kongress für Versorgungsforschung 2026 in Köln.
• Witt, S., Völkel, A., Friepörtner, M., Heimsoth, J., Hessel, A., Schüz, N., Unverferth, C. & Brütt, A.L. Krankheitswahrnehmung von Post-COVID-Rehabilitand:innen – Ergebnisse einer Mixed-Methods-Studie. Vortrag präsentiert auf dem 35. Rehawissenschaftlichen Kolloquium 2026 in Leipzig.
• Witt, S., Völkel, A., Friepörtner, M., Heimsoth, J., Hessel, A., Schüz, N., Unverferth, C. & Brütt, A.L. Post-COVID-Rehabilitationskonzept des Rehazentrums Oldenburg – Fragebogenergebnisse zum Gesundheitszustand der Post-COVID-Rehabilitand:innen und zur Zufriedenheit mit der Post-COVID-Rehabilitation. Vortrag präsentiert auf dem 34. Rehawissenschaftlichen Kolloquium 2025 in Nürnberg.
• Witt S., Völkel A., Noll D.L., Brütt A.L. Eine Übersicht über das Post-COVID-Rehabilitationsangebot in Niedersachsen. Rehabilitationswissenschaftliches Kolloquium, Bremen; 18.03.2024-20.03.2024.