Author: Hultberg E, Lonnroth K and Allebeck P

Journal: Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2005

Volume/pages: Vol 19(2), pp115-124

About the study

This study was called the DELTA project and took place in three Primary Care Health Centres in Sweden.   The authors of the study wanted to find out whether co-financed multidisciplinary teams including staff from primary care, social insurance and social services produced better patient outcomes than conventional care.

Findings

A comparison was made between patients at the three centres practising collaboration and patients at four matched control health centres. Patients were interviewed within two weeks of their first visit and after six and twelve months.   138 patients took part in all three interviews.   After twelve months there was no significant difference in health status between the two groups.

Key Messages for practice

• A co-financed model does not appear to lead to improved patient outcomes in rehabilitation for people with musculoskeletal disorders

• The implementation of a multidisciplinary team structure may have little impact on patients' experiences or the treatment actually received.