Most U.S. physicians consider Long COVID a problem, but few are prepared to diagnose or treat it, according to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation. The December 2022 poll of 806 U.S. physicians found that more than three in four (78%) think Long COVID is a problem, but only 7% are “very confident” diagnosing Long COVID and only 4% are very confident treating the condition. Download the research brief. The poll has several important implications for policymakers and the medical community:
- Physicians need much more training in diagnosing and treating Long COVID.
- Funding research about Long COVID should be a national priority, and has the support of 82% of physicians and 76% of the public.
- More public education is needed to overcome misinformation and the stigma of Long COVID.
“Despite attempts by a small number of physicians to downplay the ongoing threat of COVID-19, these findings show that nearly all physicians recognize the threat of Long COVID, with only 2% saying it’s not a problem at all,” said Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, de Beaumont’s president and CEO. “And across partisan lines, physicians and other Americans agree we need more funding for Long COVID research.”
See the full summary below or download the PDF document: