Prevalence of insurance medicine related outcomes in update reviews of Cochrane’s 2015 priority list

Article type
Authors
Kunz R1, Vogel N2, deBoer W2, von Allmen D2
1Swiss Academy of Insurance Medicine, University Hospital Basel , Switzerland
2Swiss Academy of Insurance Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
Abstract
Background: Cochrane Insurance Medicine has recently registered as a Field with Cochrane, and went public in March 2015. Insurance medicine deals with health-related issues in the context of insurance coverage, in particular sick leave, short- and long-term disability, and interventions to facilitate return to work. While almost all medical disciplines benefit from outcome research and their synthesis in the form of systematic reviews, insurance medicine has missed out this development. Equally, many healthcare areas ignore the importance of outcomes related to sick leave and short-and long-term disability, and, thereby, neglected important consequences of health care to patients and society.
Objectives: To explore the prevalence of insurance medicine related outcomes in updated reviews on Cochrane's 2015 priority list (editorial-unit.cochrane.org/cochrane-priority-review-list-2015-16).
Methods: We used a cohort of systemic reviews (SR) from the Cochrane priority list for updates: Population: SRs on adults of working age with health conditions that commonly result in temporary or permanent inability to work (sick leave, short- and long-term disability). Interventions: Healthcare interventions that may impact on the course and/or duration of the disease. Outcomes: Duration of sick leave, short- and long-term disability and their prevention; return-to-work and other work-related disability outcomes as defined by Cochrane Occupational Safety and Health Group (osh.cochrane.org). We will report type and frequency of primary and secondary outcomes.
Results: The priority list identified 144 of 297 review topics from 49 Cochrane Review Groups with an urgent need for update, 100 of which met our inclusion criteria. The analysis is currently underway. Results will be presented at the Colloquium.
Conclusions: We anticipate that despite their importance for individuals and society, very few reviews (< 5%) will consider outcomes related to reduction of sick leave, short- or long-term disability, and successful return to work.