PROGNOSABLE - a stepwise method for an evidence-based and tailored disability prognosis evaluation: Towards an intervention to assess a founded prognosis of functional abilities for work

Towards an intervention to assess a founded prognosis of functional abilities for work
Sylvia P. Snoeck – Krygsman1, 2, 3, Frederieke G. Schaafsma2,4, Birgit H. P. M. Donker-Cools1,2,3, Carel T. J. Hulshof1, 2, Lyanne P. Jansen1, 2 & Jan L. Hoving1, 2
1 Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location: Academic Medical Centre.
2 Research Center for Insurance Medicine (KCVG): collaboration between AMC – UMCG – UWV - VUmc
3 Department of Social Medical Affairs (SMZ), The Dutch Social Security Institute: The Institute for Employee Benefits Schemes (UWV).
4 Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, Location: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
CONTACT Sylvia P. Snoeck - Krygsman s.p.snoeck-krygsman@amsterdamumc.nl, +31 20 56 65325.
Background
When assessing the functional abilities for work, their prognosis is very important, but also very difficult to evaluate. The main question that needs to be addressed is: Can the functional abilities of this client with this disease improve? And if yes, in what way and when?
The answer needs to be well-founded and ideally by means of scientific evidence. Earlier studies have shown which aspects during prognosis assessment should be considered and what support physicians need. Currently, we’re interviewing other stakeholders on their needs and the potential burdens for the development and implementation of an intervention.
Objectives
To develop an acceptable and practical tool and training that fits well in the organizational and societal context that helps physicians to improve the quality of their prognostic assessment of functional abilities.
Methods
Based on the process of Intervention Mapping (Bartholomew et al, 1998; Eldredge et al, 2016), we performed a needs assessment and will be determining performance and change objectives. These will guide us towards the developing, building and integrating of a digital prognosis assessment tool, with accompanying method and training. We plan to test the efficacy of the tool and training by means of a RCT, comparing the quality of the prognosis assessment of a group working with the tool and a group without it. Providing that the quality and acceptability of the tool is demonstrated, we’re aiming at broad acceptance and implementation in the context of the Dutch social security disability assessments.
Results
We’re expecting the results of the needs assessment, performance objectives and change objectives in the summer of 2020. We will present those along with derived ideas in the form of a blueprint of the tool and an outline of the training.
Conclusions
The conclusions regarding this part of our project, will be presented at EUMASS 2020.
Impact on insurance medicine practice
A resulting tool, with underlying method and accompanying training, will support physicians when assessing prognosis of functional abilities in work. It should improve quality and efficiency. It should be acceptable and well-fitted into the organization and societal context.