Effects of a co-financed interdisciplinary collaboration model in primary health care on service utilisation among patients with musculoskeletal disorders

Abstract

Background: In 1994 Sweden introduced a trial legislation allowing co-financing between authorities. The legislation aimed to stimulate new ways of collaboration between health and social care providers. One of the specific objectives was to make management of patients with conditions requiring multidisciplinary care more efficient and reduce costs. This study aims to assess if there were any differences in management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders at health centres applying the trial legislation compared to health centre with conventional care with regards to health services utilisation, health care interventions received, and costs.

Method: A comparative prospective study was conducted. Consecutive patients aged 16-64 with musculoskeletal disorders attending the health care centres with (n=107) and without (n=31) co-financing model were interviewed at inclusion and after 6 and 12 months. Number of contacts with professionals and interventions received were registered.

Results: Patients at the intervention centres had significantly more contact with physiotherapists and physicians than the controls. Contacts with other services such as social insurance office, social services office or hospitals did not differ significantly between the groups. Costs were higher for the interventions centres.

Conclusion: The findings do not suggest that the trial legislation reduced health care utilisation or costs for patients with musculoskeletal disorders.