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Miss Breanna Weigel
2023 Deeble Institute Scholar
PhD Candidate
National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University
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By collecting patient-level data, I have been fortunate to directly communicate with and learn from people living with chronic multi-systemic illness throughout my PhD. Hearing about patients’ lived experiences has highlighted to me the importance of inclusive policy and practice measures to adequately support people living with chronic multi-systemic illnesses such as Long COVID in Australia. The Deeble Institute’s Scholarship program provided me with an opportunity to further investigate the barriers to the recognition of Long COVID in Australian health policy and outline measures to take to achieve necessary change.
I am in the third year of my PhD studies at the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, where patients are prioritised at the core of all our research. My PhD project aims to better understand the patient illness experience for Australians living with chronic multi-systemic illness such as Long COVID by investigating illness presentation, quality of life, and healthcare service interactions.
Living with Long COVID has repercussions on multiple aspects of life, from poor physical health, to social isolation, disruptions to work, and not being able to perform typical daily activities. To manage the symptoms and challenges associated with the condition in the absence of a cure, the patient experience must guide the development and delivery of care for Long COVID patients.
The importance of actively engaging patients in the development of policy and care pathways is the primary focus of my Issues Brief. Improved patient-reported data on experiences with healthcare services is required to understand specific barriers to care for people with Long COVID. My Deeble Issues Brief also discusses the lack of a consensus Long COVID case definition for use in Australia, as well as the paucity of Long COVID surveillance data, and calls for improved identification and monitoring of Long COVID nationwide
I am incredibly grateful for the chance to collaborate with the AHHA as a 2023 Deeble Institute Scholar. By writing for an audience outside of academia, this experience took me out of my comfort zone and enabled me to develop critical communication skills that are integral for translating research to tangible outcomes for patients. The scholarship program also connected me with relevant stakeholders, who saw the broader implications of Long COVID on the healthcare system and policy. I am greatly appreciative of the guidance, support, and expertise of the Deeble Institute and the broader AHHA throughout the program and to have had such a unique and “real world” experience so early in my research career.
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The Deeble Institute’s Summer Research Scholarship is proudly supported by HESTA.
