A Naturalistic Trial of Nudging Clinicians in the Norwegian Sickness Absence Clinic. The NSAC Nudge Study

Summary

The Norwegian Sickness Absence Clinic (NSAC) Nudge Study is a naturalistic randomized controlled multicentre trial which aim is to measure the efficacy of nudging clinicians' attention towards patients' motivation for work, barriers for return to work and work environment challenges, on functional recovery as primary outcome, and health outcomes as secondary outcome.

Patients will be recruited in five different NSACs across northern Norway. In total 1100 patients will be randomized to two equal probability treatment arms: 1) NSAC with the nudge, and 2) NSAC without the nudge. The nudge is tailored to the individual patient's needs using survey, and the clinicians are presented with a summary of this patient survey prior to consultations highlighting health problems and challenges as reported by the patient in the survey.

Conditions

• Musculoskeletal Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Occupational Exposure
• Work Related Stress
• Workplace Bullying
• Employment
• Sickness Absence
• Return to Work

Interventions

OTHER

NSAC health only

NSAC is an outpatient service delivered under the auspices of the specialist health care sector to patients currently on sick leave or at risk for long-term sickness absence. The service is staffed by medical doctors specialising in musculoskeletal health, physiotherapists, psychologists and welfare sector counsellors, and aims to provide patients with multi-disciplinary treatment with the intent of functional recovery. In "NSAC health only", clinicians are provided survey information on potential health problems only.

OTHER

NSAC health + MBW

NSAC is an outpatient service delivered under the auspices of the specialist health care sector to patients currently on sick leave or at risk for long-term sickness absence. The service is staffed by medical doctors specialising in musculoskeletal health, physiotherapists, psychologists and welfare sector counsellors, and aims to provide patients with multi-disciplinary treatment with the intent of functional recovery. In "NSAC health + MBW" clinicians are provided survey information on potential health problems as well as information on motivation for work, barriers for return to work and work environment factors.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital of North Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Opptreningssenteret i Finnmark (Alta, Norway)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Helgeland Hospital Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Finnmarkssykehuset HF (Kirkenes, Norway)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Nordlandssykehuset HF

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Arnstein Mykletun, PhD · UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

23 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-06

Primary Completion

2028-04-12

Completion

2033-01-12

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations