Muller, Elza MD, Huysmans, Maaike A. PhD, Rijssen, Jolanda van H.J. PhD, Anema, Han J.R. MD PhD.
The goal is to develop one or more interventions to:
The research began in September 2019. By the summer of 2021, outcomes from semi-structured interviews with experts at the intersection of medicine and technology, as well as results from a survey of physicians working at UWV, were collected. The data from the survey has been used as input for the first article. Important conclusions from this research indicate that insurance physicians are generally open to the application and use of eHealth in their work (younger physicians under 40 are more so than their older colleagues). They particularly see the use of eHealth in the area of disability claim assessments and medical information gathering. They report that issues related to data privacy and loss of physical client contact hinder the use of eHealth, but the potential for more efficient and future-oriented work promotes its use.
Currently, we are conducting a systematic literature study on the (facilitating and hindering) factors relevant for the implementation of digital innovations (eHealth) within insurance medicine.
Development of an eHealth Intervention
Based on previous studies, our own research findings, and input from key stakeholders, we are developing an eHealth intervention to map clients’ daily functioning (diary of daily activities). This tool is intended to support insurance physicians in their preparation for the consultation of the disability assessment.
Clients can independently complete a diary on their daily activities and indicate how demanding they experience each activity to be. This provides them with greater insight into their own functioning. At the same time, it offers physicians valuable additional information when preparing for the consultation and when substantiating functional capacity. This leads to more efficient and focused consultations, with a positive impact on both the quality of disability assessments and communication between physician and client.
Literature Review: Factors for Implementation of eHealth Interventions
We are currently conducting a literature review to identify the key facilitating and hindering factors for implementing eHealth interventions aimed at improving functioning and participation in work.
This study is expected to be completed in early 2026 and will result in a scientific publication.
Analyses of documentation in case reports on the Daily Activities in WIA Assessments
In early 2026, we will start an analyses of how daily activities are documented in WIA disability assessments. To what extent are daily activities discussed? What information about daily activities is reported? And are daily activities considered in the assessment of functional capacity? We will review 200 case reports to answer these questions.
Feasibility Study in Practice
The results of the literature review and case reports will be used to further refine the eHealth intervention on the assessment of daily activities. In the summer of 2026, we will start a proof-of-concept study to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention in everyday insurance medicine practice. This practice-based study is expected to be completed in autumn 2026 and will result in a scientific publication.
Intended Completion Date of the PhD Project
The PhD project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
As part of my survey "Attitudes, experiences, and needs of insurance physicians regarding the application of new technologies in insurance medicine" from last summer, I also asked insurance physicians for their opinions on remote client contact (during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic). The findings are described in the report.
Email: e.muller1@amsterdamumc.nl
Up date: 7-10-2024
