{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T23:38:22Z","timestamp":1786664302100,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778457600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Taste and smell disorders are predominant symptoms of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and can persist in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), commonly referred to as Long COVID. These sensory impairments continue to significantly affect daily life and wellbeing, yet clinical understanding and care strategies remain insufficient. There is an ongoing need to address the specific healthcare requirements of this population. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences and perceptions of individuals with Long COVID related taste and smell disorders regarding symptom management and the challenges affecting continuity of care. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2024 in the Community of Madrid (Spain) using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, an approach appropriate for examining patient experiences in healthcare. Twelve participants with previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistent loss and\/or impairment of taste and smell were interviewed. Four themes were identified: (a) Implications of Long COVID taste and smell disorders, (b) Expectations regarding prognosis and symptom cure, (c) Professional approach and symptom management, (d) Barriers and facilitators to continuity of care. Findings highlight the clinical and social relevance of taste and smell disorders in Long COVID and illustrate how qualitative methods can capture patient perspectives that may inform future mixed-methods research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1784507","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T05:30:15Z","timestamp":1778477415000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Challenges to continuity of care among patients with long COVID-related taste and smell disorders: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Mar\u00eda Bel\u00e9n","family":"Mart\u00edn-Sanz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Specialties and Public Health, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paloma","family":"Moro-L\u00f3pez-Menchero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science at Rey Juan Carlos University, Rey Juan Carlos University","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C\u00e9sar","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez-De-Las-Pe\u00f1as","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Manual Therapy, Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stella Maris","family":"G\u00f3mez-S\u00e1nchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group GAMDES, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Gil-Crujera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group GAMDES, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Ceballos-Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Dentistry, IDIBO Research Group, Rey Juan Carlos University","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nuria I.","family":"Escribano-Mediavilla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Dentistry, IDIBO Research Group, Rey Juan Carlos University","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00aa Victoria","family":"Fuentes-Fuentes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Dentistry, IDIBO Research Group, Rey Juan Carlos University","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lidiane Lima","family":"Florencio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Manual Therapy, Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Domingo","family":"Palacios-Ce\u00f1a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science at Rey Juan Carlos University, Rey Juan Carlos University","place":["Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e102","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(21)00703-9","article-title":"WHO clinical case definition working group on post-COVID-19 condition. A clinical case definition of post-COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus","volume":"22","author":"Soriano","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"707","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(24)01136-X","article-title":"Long COVID: a clinical update","volume":"404","author":"Greenhalgh","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ciaf046","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciaf046","article-title":"Long-COVID incidence proportion in adults and children between 2020 and 2024","author":"Mandel","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.3390\/life14030317","article-title":"Persistent olfactory and taste dysfunction after COVID-19","volume":"14","author":"Buksinska","year":"2024","journal-title":"Life (Basel)."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2393","DOI":"10.2147\/IJGM.S408706","article-title":"Transient anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19 disease: a cross sectional study","volume":"16","author":"Ali","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Gen Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5115","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-023-08163-x","article-title":"Distinct smell and taste disorder phenotype of post-acute COVID-19 sequelae","volume":"280","author":"Rass","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur Arch Otorrinolaringol"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e247818","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.7818","article-title":"Long-term taste and smell outcomes after COVID-19","volume":"7","author":"Sharetts","year":"2024","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-025-03974-7","article-title":"Risk, determinants, and persistence of long-COVID in a population-based cohort study in Catalonia","volume":"23","author":"Kogevinas","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1111\/joim.13564","article-title":"Prevalence and 24-month recovery of olfactory dysfunction in COVID19 patients: a multicentre prospective study","volume":"293","author":"Lechien","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Intern Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5625","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-023-08227-y","article-title":"Evaluating long-term smell or taste dysfunction in mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients: a 3-year follow-up study","volume":"280","author":"Boscolo-Rizzo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur Arch Otorrinolaringol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"bjac001","DOI":"10.1093\/chemse\/bjac001","article-title":"Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"47","author":"Hannum","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chem Senses"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2357","DOI":"10.1002\/lary.30802","article-title":"Smell and taste loss associated with COVID-19 infection","volume":"133","author":"Mitchell","year":"2023","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.3390\/life14030301","article-title":"Taste and smell disorders: a critical look at olfactory and gustatory dysfunction","volume":"14","author":"Maniaci","year":"2024","journal-title":"Life (Basel)"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4085","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.16601","article-title":"Trajectories of coping with persistent smell and taste dysfunction after a Covid-19 infection-a qualitative interview study","volume":"81","author":"Sandvik","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Adv Nurs"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.3390\/life12020141","article-title":"The effects of persistent olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions on quality of life in long-COVID-19 patients","volume":"12","author":"Vaira","year":"2022","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1373","DOI":"10.1007\/s12070-023-04260-9","article-title":"The lingering effects of COVID-19: the psychological state and quality of life of patients with persistent loss of smell and taste","volume":"76","author":"Nagi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5068","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14235068","article-title":"Eating habits and body weight changes induced by variation in smell and taste in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection","volume":"14","author":"Ferrulli","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1213","DOI":"10.1111\/coa.13818","article-title":"Barriers to effective health care for patients who have smell or taste disorders","volume":"46","author":"Ball","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin Otolaryngol"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e081318","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj-2024-081318","article-title":"Interventions for the management of long COVID (post-COVID condition): living systematic review","volume":"387","author":"Zeraatkar","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-024-10891-7","article-title":"\u201cThey seemed to be like cogs working in different directions\u201d: a longitudinal qualitative study on long COVID healthcare services in the United Kingdom from a person-centred lens","volume":"24","author":"Fang","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"754","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12070754","article-title":"Living and coping with olfactory and taste disorders: a qualitative study of people with long-COVID-19","volume":"12","author":"Moro-L\u00f3pez-Menchero","year":"2024","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"key":"ref22","volume-title":"Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Choosing Among Five Approaches","author":"Creswell","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388","article-title":"Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations","volume":"89","author":"O'Brien","year":"2014","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups","volume":"19","author":"Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2022.2057287","article-title":"A practical guide to reflexivity in qualitative research: AMEE guide no. 149","volume":"45","author":"Olmos-Vega","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100051","DOI":"10.1016\/j.glmedi.2024.100051","article-title":"The pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research","volume":"2","author":"Sirwan Khalid","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Med Surg Public Health"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1080\/13814788.2017.1375091","article-title":"Series: practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 3: sampling, data collection and analysis","volume":"24","author":"Moser","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Gen Pract"},{"key":"ref28","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1893","DOI":"10.1007\/s11135-017-0574-8","article-title":"Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization","volume":"52","author":"Saunders","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qual Quant"},{"key":"ref30","volume-title":"Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook","author":"Miles","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers","author":"Salda\u00f1a","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2288-13-117","article-title":"Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research","volume":"13","author":"Gale","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/0147-1767(85)90062-8","volume-title":"Naturalistic Inquiry","author":"Lincoln","year":"1985"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph191811460","article-title":"Psychometric properties of the functional impairment checklist (FIC) as a disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors with long-COVID","volume":"19","author":"Fern\u00e1ndez-de-Las-Pe\u00f1as","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e054598","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-054598","article-title":"Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and quality of life in hospitalised patients 1 year after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cohort study","volume":"12","author":"Tan","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2022.43.38.31329","article-title":"COVID-19 loss of taste and smell: potential psychological repercussions","volume":"43","author":"Javed","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pan Afr Med J"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"789","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-18267-6","article-title":"An exploration of the experiences and self-generated strategies used when navigating everyday life with long COVID","volume":"24","author":"Leggat","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100336","DOI":"10.1016\/j.opresp.2024.100336","article-title":"Long-term patient symptoms and quality of life in adults after COVID-19: a real life study","volume":"6","author":"Perez","year":"2024","journal-title":"Open Respir Arch"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e011276","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2022-011276","article-title":"Conceptualising the episodic nature of disability among adults living with long COVID: a qualitative study","volume":"8","author":"O'Brien","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1570","DOI":"10.1002\/alr.23054","article-title":"Parosmia assessment with structured questions and its functional impact in patients with long-term COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction","volume":"12","author":"Boscolo-Rizzo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int Forum Allergy Rhinol"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.3122\/jabfm.2022.02.210373","article-title":"Olfactory loss and beyond: a practical review of chemosensory dysfunction","volume":"35","author":"Claus","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Am Board Fam Med"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0256998","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0256998","article-title":"Altered smell and taste: anosmia, parosmia and the impact of long Covid-19","volume":"16","author":"Burges Watson","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14008","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.14008","article-title":"Accessing care for long COVID from the perspectives of patients and healthcare practitioners: a qualitative study","volume":"27","author":"Turk","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Expect"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2240332","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.40332","article-title":"Complexity and challenges of the clinical diagnosis and management of long COVID","volume":"5","author":"O'Hare","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1080\/13814788.2017.1375092","article-title":"Series: practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: trustworthiness and publishing","volume":"24","author":"Korstjens","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Gen Pract"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-018-0594-7","article-title":"Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period","volume":"18","author":"Vasileiou","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114523","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2021.114523","article-title":"Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: a systematic review of empirical tests","volume":"292","author":"Hennink","year":"2022","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annepidem.2020.07.008","article-title":"Qualitative research in epidemiology: theoretical and methodological perspectives","volume":"49","author":"Bannister-Tyrrell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ann Epidemiol"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"sfae422","DOI":"10.1093\/ckj\/sfae422","article-title":"Designing qualitative research with value in the clinical and epidemiological context: what, why and how","volume":"18","author":"Meuleman","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Kidney J"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"853","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwad050","article-title":"Why epidemiology is incomplete without qualitative and mixed methods","volume":"192","author":"Lane-Fall","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1784507\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T05:30:17Z","timestamp":1778477417000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1784507\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"references-count":50,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1784507"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1784507","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"article-number":"1784507"}}