The Context of Recovery Among Adults Who Recover from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Condition Following Mind-Body Approaches: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Protocol
- 1McMaster University
Abstract
BackgroundMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID condition are complex, debilitating illnesses characterized by persistent fatigue and post-exertional malaise. Recovery is uncommon without targeted intervention; however, emerging clinical reports suggest that a subset of patients experience full resolution of symptoms after engaging in mind-body approaches. Patient perspectives on these interventions are divided, and qualitative evidence exploring successful recovery pathways is rare. This protocol outlines a study to investigate the contextual factors and patient-constructed explanations surrounding full recovery from ME/CFS or post-COVID condition using mind-body approaches.
Methods and analysisWe will employ a qualitative descriptive design rooted in a constructivist paradigm. Purposive and snowball sampling will be used to recruit approximately 20 adults from established infection-associated fatigue networks who self-report full recovery (lasting three months or more) from ME/CFS or post-COVID condition following a mind-body approach. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, and investigator reflexivity will be reported. Demographic information, including comorbidities, will be documented to contextualize the sample. Data will be analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. To ensure research rigor and reporting transparency, the study will adhere to the 15-point checklist of criteria for good thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke.
DisseminationWe will publish our findings in a peer-reviewed, open-access journal and present at relevant academic conferences. A lay summary of the results will also be shared directly with participating patient recovery networks.
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BibTeX
@misc{cordovani2026context,
title = {{The Context of Recovery Among Adults Who Recover from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Condition Following Mind-Body Approaches: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Protocol}},
author = {L. Cordovani and L. Almazyad and D. Zeraatkar and J. W. Busse},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.24.26363855},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.24.26363855v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The Context of Recovery Among Adults Who Recover from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Condition Following Mind-Body Approaches: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Protocol
AU - L. Cordovani
AU - L. Almazyad
AU - D. Zeraatkar
AU - J. W. Busse
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.24.26363855
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.24.26363855v1
AB - BackgroundMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID condition are complex, debilitating illnesses characterized by persistent fatigue and post-exertional malaise. Recovery is uncommon without targeted intervention; however, emerging clinical reports suggest that a subset of patients experience full resolution of symptoms after engaging in mind-body approaches. Patient perspectives on these interventions are divided, and qualitative evidence exploring successful recovery pathways is rare. This protocol outlines a study to investigate the contextual factors and patient-constructed explanations surrounding full recovery from ME/CFS or post-COVID condition using mind-body approaches. Methods and analysisWe will employ a qualitative descriptive design rooted in a constructivist paradigm. Purposive and snowball sampling will be used to recruit approximately 20 adults from established infection-associated fatigue networks who self-report full recovery (lasting three months or more) from ME/CFS or post-COVID condition following a mind-body approach. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, and investigator reflexivity will be reported. Demographic information, including comorbidities, will be documented to contextualize the sample. Data will be analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. To ensure research rigor and reporting transparency, the study will adhere to the 15-point checklist of criteria for good thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke. DisseminationWe will publish our findings in a peer-reviewed, open-access journal and present at relevant academic conferences. A lay summary of the results will also be shared directly with participating patient recovery networks.
ER -