Effect Evaluation of Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) in Norway (NIME)

NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

Status: Completed

Conditions: All International Classification of Primary Care 2 Diagnoses

Treatments: Other: Independent medical evaluation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02524392

UniResearch

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled trial comparing independent medical evaluation (IME) to treatment as usual (TAU). Participants will be individuals reaching six months uninterrupted sickness absence. Treatment as usual (TAU) is normal follow-up by a general practitioner (GP).

Full description

A randomized controlled trial in a Norwegian context, involving an effect evaluation, a cost-benefit evaluation and a qualitative evaluation. Independent medical evaluation (IME) will be compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Independent medical evaluation (IME) will comprise a consultation with an independent general practitioner (IME GP) who will assess whether the sick listed worker has been given eligible and available opportunities in return to work follow-up in Norway. The independent medical evaluation general practitioner (IME GP) will write a short report that is sent to the treating general practitioner as input from a colleague. The report can be used in the follow-up of the sick listed participant. The participants in the treatment as usual (TAU) group will not receive any other follow-up than normal follow-up by the treating general practitioner. The qualitative evaluation will be conducted to gain insight into the experiences of the general practitioners and the participants.

Enrollment: 7,642 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 66 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants on sick leave with an International Classification of Primary Care-2 diagnosis will be recruited through the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration's (NAV) registries, when reaching 22 weeks of sick leave (full or graded).

Exclusion criteria

• People with International Classification of Disease-10 diagnoses, cancer or dementia.
• People who are pregnant.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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7,642 participants in 2 patient groups

Independent medical evaluation

Experimental group

Description:

Independent medical evaluation (IME) of another doctor than the treating general practitioner.

Treatment:

Other: Independent medical evaluation

Treatment as usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Treatment as usual by the treating general practitioner. There will be one randomized control group in one county. Sick-listed in other counties serve as an extra control group.