A randomized controlled trial is currently evaluating the effectiveness of digital rehabilitation care planning for individuals with chronic diseases who are at high risk of early retirement. The study, known as RehaPro-SERVE, utilizes a digital case management approach to facilitate multidisciplinary care planning, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of rehabilitation services.
Digital Case Management Intervention
The intervention group will participate in digital case conferences (CC) via the Cankado platform. These conferences will involve primary care physicians (PCPs), case administrators from the German pension insurance, public health physicians, and representatives from employment agencies or job centers. The PCPs will provide rehabilitation-relevant medical information and propose initial treatments, which will be discussed among the stakeholders. A case administrator will facilitate communication and arrange appropriate programs once a consensus is reached. A public health physician will recommend measures from pension insurance services, while an employment agency representative will suggest work-related services like vocational training.
Control Group and Usual Care
Patients in the control group will continue to receive usual care from their PCPs and can apply for rehabilitation treatments using traditional paper-based forms. This design allows for a comparison between the digital intervention and the standard care pathway.
Trial Design and Outcomes
The primary outcome of the trial is the total number of sick leave days between t1 and t2 (12-month period after the assumed completion of treatment). Secondary outcomes include self-reported sick leave days, work ability assessed using the German version of the Work Ability Index (WAI), and health-related quality of life measured with the German version of the SF-36. The trial will also conduct a process evaluation to assess withdrawal rates, time to treatment, treatments recommended and used, involvement of social workers, and duration of case conferences.
Sample Size and Recruitment
The study aims to recruit 352 participants (176 in each group) to detect a difference of 34 days in sick leave between the intervention and control groups, assuming a common standard deviation of 90 days, with 90% power and a 5% two-sided significance level. PCPs are being recruited through a research practice network, and eligible patients are identified based on specific criteria. PCPs receive compensation for their participation and for each patient recruited.
