Topics for targeted research funding 2024 

1.    Media coverage prior to market entry and reimbursement of new medicines

Pharmaceuticals are not only the most widely used treatment intervention in health care, but also a business sector with a strong financial interest. The marketing of medicines is strictly regulated, and Finland prohibits the consumer marketing of prescription medicines. Nevertheless, new, newly introduced or emerging medicines are marketed in other ways, such as by creating ideas and impressions of diseases, patients' stories or expectations of medicines in public debate and the media. Media visibility is targeted not only at health care operators, but also at the general public. Media coverage can often begin even before marketing authorisation is granted or reimbursement is applied for. 

Kela is commissioning a study that examines the media visibility of new medicines and the utilisation of this media visibility in influencing decision-making concerning medicines. 

The study should address the following questions:

• What channels are used to seek visibility and who is the visibility aimed at?
• What kind of narratives are used in the public visibility of new medicines?
• How does media coverage fit into a medicine's life cycle?
• How does media coverage take into account the benefits and potential harms and risks of new medicines?
• How are medicines that receive media coverage selected?

The study may approach the topic through several different perspectives and methods. Budget estimate up to EUR 300,000.

2.    Unemployed people in the Finnish sickness allowance system

As the number of days for which sickness allowance is paid by Kela accumulates, the person's work ability and need for rehabilitation are monitored, and the possibilities of returning to work are examined. Although people with a history of unemployment have more work ability problems than average, unemployed people receive sickness allowance less often than those who are in employment. If individuals do not apply for sickness allowance, they are also left outside of the monitoring linked to the accumulation of sickness allowance days, and subsequently the necessary work ability support measures may not be undertaken. 

Kela is commissioning a study that examines the factors and processes that are linked to the fact that people with a history of unemployment do not receive sickness allowance to the same extent as those in employment. 

The study should address the following questions: 

• Among unemployed people, how are an individual’s background factors and motivational factors connected to applying for sickness allowance? 
• Are there any links between financial incentives associated with different levels of benefits to claiming or not claiming sickness allowance? 
• To what extent does a fear of bureaucratic traps and the complexity of the benefit system affect application for sickness allowance? 
• How do the different actors and processes in the health and social services and employment services systems support or prevent unemployed people from applying for sickness allowance? 
• How do the criteria for granting sickness allowance affect the application for and receipt of sickness allowance for people with a history of unemployment? 

The study should highlight problems in the current system and produce proposals for development. The study may be multi-methodical. Budget estimate up to EUR 300,000.

3.    Description of the current state of rehabilitation services organised by the wellbeing services counties

The wellbeing services counties organise and are the main providers of health and social welfare services. The counties also organise a wide range of rehabilitation for people of different ages, including medical rehabilitation (e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) and social rehabilitation (e.g. substance abuse rehabilitation, workshop activities). However, there are variations between wellbeing services counties with regard to the organisation of rehabilitation. There is currently no clear overview of the situation.

Kela is commissioning a study to describe the current state of rehabilitation services organised by the wellbeing services counties. The study charts the rehabilitation services organised by the wellbeing services counties and their organisation. The organisation of rehabilitation services should be mapped out as a broad whole, taking into account rehabilitation services aimed at different age groups, including both medical and social rehabilitation, as well as any primary material to be implemented in the area.

The study should address the following questions:

• What rehabilitation services do the wellbeing services counties organise?
• How sufficient are the resources for organising rehabilitation services? 
• How have the wellbeing services counties organised rehabilitation services in their area?
• What kind of client groups is rehabilitation arranged for (e.g. age groups) and what kind of client volumes do the services see?
• What works and what does not work in rehabilitation services and their organisation?

The study can be multi-methodical (e.g. statistical analyses, document analysis, expert interviews). Budget estimate up to EUR 100,000.

4.    Overview of Nordic rehabilitation systems

A comprehensive reform of the rehabilitation system is under way in Finland. A more extensive description of the current situation would be useful in the development of both the rehabilitation system as well as rehabilitation benefits and services. The description should provide information on the rehabilitation systems in the Nordic countries, their benefits and services, and the differences between the countries. However, no such overview of the situation is currently available. 

Kela is commissioning a literature review, the aim of which is to collect information on the current state of rehabilitation systems in the Nordic countries. 

The review should address the following questions:

• What are the rehabilitation systems (organisational responsibilities and provision of services and benefits with target groups) like in the other Nordic countries?
• What are the differences between rehabilitation systems in the Nordic countries?

The review may include domestic and international quantitative, qualitative and multi-methodical studies, case studies and systematic reviews. In addition, reports and other documents describing rehabilitation systems may be included. Subject to consideration, the review may be limited to specific groups. The review can be supplemented with expert interviews. Budget estimate up to EUR 60,000.

5.    Medical statements concerning work ability assessments in health care

The objectives of the health and social services reform, which entered into force at the beginning of 2023, are to improve the quality of services and increase the effectiveness of operations. One barrier to achieving the targets is a shortage of public health personnel, which makes it necessary to investigate, in particular, how physicians use their time, and the time and arrangements used to issue medical statements. 

Kela is commissioning a study consisting of two parts. The first part examines physicians' experiences of their workload related to issuing B statements on work ability assessments and the practice of assessing of the need for rehabilitation. The second part uses a scoping literature review to examine the possibilities of using artificial intelligence as an aid in work ability assessments.

The study should address the following questions:
The first part of the study:

• What is the workload and time spent on medical statements concerning work ability assessments? The study should present estimates of the time taken and contributing factors (assessments as part of regular patient work, during separate working hours, other work arrangements such as fees received for statements)
• What are the statement procedures for 60-90-150-230 days, i.e. how is the assessment of the need for rehabilitation carried out?

The second part of the study:

• Has artificial intelligence been utilised in work ability assessments (e.g. treatment history as material)?
• What kind of benefits and risks have been identified in the use of artificial intelligence or the possibilities of its use in relation to work ability assessments?

The first part of the study may be multi-methodical. The study may include domestic and international quantitative, qualitative and multi-methodical studies, case studies and systematic reviews. The review can be supplemented with expert interviews. Budget estimate up to EUR 200,000.