Further Research

While researching how people with low stamina issues (not only caused by the Long Covid), deal with it, a rule of 5 P's stood out, which is applied oftentimes by the patients:

• Pacing: Dividing tasks into smaller sub-tasks, which helps to conserve energy and take breaks (for example - making dinner as two separate actions with a break in between)

• Planning: People struggling with fatigue tend to plan their days in advance, to ensure that they can handle the amount of tasks they have to do in one day - however, the particular caseholder was not in favor of this "strategy", because of her personal preferences

• ​Prioritizing: Putting the most important tasks first and possibly neglecting less important/unnecessary ones

• Positioning: Keeping in mind keeping proper posture while doing any activities, to avoid putting too much stress on one body part

• Positive attitude: Being easy on oneself

Besides the strategies presented above, it was found that overall getting quality rest and keeping in mind some leisure time in the schedule is also crucial.

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In the same topic, research was also done into the Apps, that already exist to help people with low stamina. It was found that many variants of them, also ones specifically targeted to people with Long Covid, are available on the market, and mostly aim to help people plan their days, according to their stamina levels, also taking into account input that they fill in, regarding how they feel. Hence, taking that into account, as well as Anne's personal preferences, this direction (sort of a planner/app idea) was eliminated from possible design directions. 

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In this aspect, the Group wanted to find out how long can the "ups and downs" in the Long Covid last, as those were mentioned in the first Interview by Anne. Unfortunately, according to the information online, and the testimonies of other patients, there's no real pattern or triggers to the periods when people with Long Covid feel worse and less energized. However, to continue investigating that, Anne was asked to conduct a journal, where she documented her daily activities and indicated when she felt tired, which is discussed in the next sub-page of this website.

As discussed in the Heading, the Group also found out about the Hip Replacement surgery the caseholder underwent, after the first meeting. Therefore, some research on it was done, indicating some information, mainly on the recovery part of the process:

• First off, the patient, after the surgery usually does not remain in the hospital for more than 3 days

• ​Before leaving the hospital, patients are given a set of exercises they should perform while recovering at home

• At home, they have to take care of the incision area, by putting lotions on it for around 10 days, until the stitches are taken-off

• It is important that the patients walk as much as they can after the surgery

• Around 5 weeks after the surgery, patients can perform most of the activities normally again (including driving)

• After around 10 weeks, patients can usually go back to their usual life

• In the long run, people who underwent the surgery have a little bit worse performing hips (not very problematic in daily life) and may need revision surgery around 20-30 years after the first one, as the prosthetics can wear off/displace

For the Group a key takeaway was that by the end of the project, Anne should be feeling much better regarding her hip, so when designing something aiming to help her with her hips, should also aim to help her with, for example, stamina issues, as the challenges related to the surgery are temporary and shall quickly resolve, maybe even within the Project time.

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