Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial of the Norwegian Health in Work Service. The NSAC Efficacy Study

Norway2,500 participantsStarted 2023-01-16

Plain-language summary

The Norwegian Sickness Absence Clinic (NSAC) is a publicly funded specialist outpatient health service, which is uniquely available for the work force. The overall aim of the NSAC is prevention of sickness absence, promote return to work (RTW) among those on sickness absence and prevent long term disability benefit dependency. In addition to being a health service, the NSAC has a focus on work and functional recovery, including also non-health related factors. Patients can be referred by general practitioners for mental health problems and musculoskeletal problems. The NSAC has a lower threshold for severity than specialist health services generally, and in particular for mental health problems. The efficacy of this service is unknown. The NSAC Efficacy Study is a randomized controlled multicentre trial which aims to assess the effect of the NSAC service. "Helse i Arbeid" is the Norwegian name for NSAC, and the Norwegian abbreviation is "HiA". The Norwegian study name is HIANOR. The NSAC Efficacy Study involves five different NSACs across northern Norway, and will recruit 2500 patients, randomized to in equal proportions to three treatment arms: 1. NSAC - rapid: treatment at the NSAC at- or within 4 weeks 2. NSAC - ordinary: treatment at the NSAC after 10-14 weeks 3. NSAC - active control: monodisciplinary examination at the NSAC close to diagnosis-specific deadline for examination as suggested by guidelines (8-26 weeks, the majority at the end of this interval) The overall aim is to assess the effect of the NSAC service, with the hypothesis that the NSAC service is superior to what resembles treatment as usual (TAU) for outcomes such as return to work or improved health (waiting list control). Many of the diagnoses or problems for which patients are referred to the NSACs naturally improve regardless of health interventions, and - as of date - no research has been conducted to assess the efficacy of the service.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: \* The patient must be considered eligible for treatment at the NSAC by the admission team at the NSAC. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients considered too healthy for treatment at the NSAC, i.e. not within target group * Patients considered too sick for treatment at the NSAC, i.e. not within target group * Patients that do not have a diagnosis that is relevant for treatment at the NSAC, i.e. not within target group * Patients otherwise considered not within target group for the measure * Patients which were included in the NSAC Nudge trial (clinicaltrials identifier: NCT05006976) may not be recruited within the first year of follow-up of that trial * Patients which are secondary referred from other departments/clinics within the hospital * Non-Norwegian or non-English speaking patients * Patients which could not be reached by the research coordinator at the outpatient clinic for information about the study

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial focuses on getting people back to work after things like musculoskeletal problems, anxiety, depression, or work-related stress — given what I'm dealing with, does my situation fit closely enough that the results of this trial might actually be relevant to my care?
2The trial is no longer recruiting, so I can't join it — but are there similar 'Health in Work' or occupational rehabilitation programmes available to me now that work on the same principles of reducing sickness absence and supporting return to work?
3The trial is measuring outcomes like disability benefits and rehabilitation benefits over the long term — what does my doctor think those kinds of results, once published, might tell us about whether this type of structured workplace support actually makes a lasting difference compared to usual care?
4My situation might involve more than one of the conditions this trial covers — like both pain and work-related stress — and I'd like to know whether my doctor thinks a coordinated occupational health approach, like the one being studied here, would be worth pursuing for someone with overlapping issues like mine?
5Since this trial is tracking whether people end up applying for rehabilitation or disability benefits as a sign of how well the programme works, how does my doctor currently assess my risk of long-term sickness absence, and what steps could we take now to address that proactively?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Functional recovery: employment

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: sickness absence

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: application for rehabilitation benefits

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: employment long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: sickness absence long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: rehabilitation benefits long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: disability benefits long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05310695

SponsorNordlandssykehuset HF

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Musculoskeletal Disorder trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Functional recovery: employment

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: sickness absence

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: application for rehabilitation benefits

Timeframe: 12 months post baseline survey

Functional recovery: employment long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: sickness absence long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: rehabilitation benefits long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey

Functional recovery: disability benefits long term

Timeframe: 5 and 10 years post baseline survey