The BRIDGE Rehabilitation Trial

Overview

The main aim of this multi-centre stepped wedge randomized controlled trial is to improve the quality, professional practice and cost-effective utilization of health care resources by evaluating if a new rehabilitation program aimed at bridging gaps in rehabilitation across levels of care may increase and/or prolong the effect of rehabilitation.

The goal of rehabilitation is to help people to reach and maintain their optimal functioning and coping capabilities, and to promote independence and participation in society. According to current political documents, there are large variation in the content and quality of rehabilitation in Norway, and systems to improve coordination and communication are needed. This trial is a collaborative project between eight centres across Norway, investigating whether a new program aimed at bridging gaps in rehabilitation across levels of care increase and/or prolong the effect of rehabilitation for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Additionally, we will use a newly developed set of quality indicators to monitor and compare the quality of rehabilitation across different centres, and explore relationships between adherence to structure and process indicators and the outcomes of rehabilitation. The effects will be evaluated in a multi-centre stepped wedge randomized controlled trial, where participating centres switch from control (current rehabilitation program) to intervention phase (adding the BRIDGE program to the current program) in a randomized order. Primary outcome is goal attainment after seven months, and secondary outcomes are health related quality of life and function. The results will give insight in the content and organisation of current rehabilitation programs, what follow-up people want and receive in primary care, their planned and completed efforts to implement and maintain life style changes, and predictors for improvement following rehabilitation in specialist health care. Results will also have consequences on how rehabilitation is to be organized in the future regarding follow-up and coordination across levels of care. The study has been developed in close collaboration with patient research partners, clinicians and international experts, who will also contribute in the process of integrating study results in clinical practice.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (8)

Outcomes