Trajectories of Coping With Persistent Smell and Taste Dysfunction After a Covid-19 Infection-A Qualitative Interview Study.
Pernilla Sandvik, Nicklas Neuman, Maja Flodin and 1 others
PMID 39508382WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with long-term smell and taste loss found olfactory training emotionally taxing and often ineffective.
They described a fluctuating journey between hope and acceptance, with distorted smells making training physically distressing. Empathy and managing expectations were valued more than the training itself.
Key findings
01Olfactory training was described as difficult, causing sadness, guilt, and self-blame, particularly for those with parosmia who found the stimuli repulsive.
02Coping strategies evolved over time from seeking validation to practical adaptations like avoidance or forced exposure, and finally to emotional navigation involving hope and acceptance.
03Participants appreciated empathic support from healthcare professionals even when clinical treatments were perceived as disappointing or limited.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Selection bias is possible as participants were recruited from a specialized clinic, potentially excluding those with less severe symptoms or different access to care. The study was conducted in Sweden, so findings may not transfer directly to other healthcare systems or cultural contexts. Member checking was not formally conducted, which may affect the validation of the interpreted themes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of reported efficacy from olfactory training in this study as evidence that it is ineffective for all patients. This is a qualitative description of patient experiences and perceptions, not a controlled trial measuring physiological outcomes.