Back to Work: Perspective of the Employee (Original Language Dutch: Terug-naar-werk: Perspectief Van Werknemer)

NCT07431996 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SPP211
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors, needs, and forms of support that play a role for healthcare professionals in three crucial phases of the sick leave process: (1) absence from work, (2) the return-to-work process during illness, and (3) resumption of work. By combining qualitative interviews and available quantitative data, the study aims to form an integrated picture of how healthcare professionals experience their journey back to work and which elements contribute to a sustainable return to the workplace. The study focuses on two target groups: healthcare professionals who are currently unable to work (1-6 months) and healthcare professionals who have recently resumed work (≤ 6 months). Participants take part in one semi-structured interview (including a validated questionnaire). The research makes an important contribution to the current state of knowledge: although international literature already describes various factors that hinder and promote reintegration, there is little research that focuses specifically on healthcare professionals, who face unique risks such as high work pressure, emotionally stressful working conditions, and structural staff shortages. Furthermore, there is a clear knowledge gap regarding which forms of support (e.g., communication, guidance, work organization) are perceived as effective by healthcare professionals themselves, both during illness and when returning to work. There is also a lack of practical insight into the medium-term absence phase (1 month - 1 year), although this phase appears to be crucial for successful reintegration. The study contributes by:

• systematically identifying needs, obstacles, and success factors specific to healthcare professionals;
• generating insights into the process of returning to work in the medium term;
• developing practical recommendations that can be directly applied in the retention and reintegration policies of healthcare institutions;
• providing scientifically substantiated building blocks that contribute to improved decision-making at the policy level regarding sick leave in the healthcare sector. By linking the insights gained to a theoretical framework and existing literature, this research fills both a scientific gap and a practical need. The results have the potential to contribute directly to a more effective, personalized, and sustainable reintegration policy for healthcare professionals in Flanders.

Conditions

Healthcare Professionals

Keywords

healthcare professionals; obstacles and facilitating factors; empowerment strategies; retention policies; return to work; absenteeism

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Factors, needs and experiences

  A semi-structured interview will be performed to gain insight into the factors, needs, and experiences of healthcare professionals during sick leave, the return-to-work process, and effective resumption of work, with a view to better understanding what promotes or hinders their return to and retention in work, and how targeted support can be provided.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Return-to-work self efficacy (RTWSE)

  Baseline

• Work Ability Index

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

The healthcare professional on sick leave

This group includes healthcare professionals who have been ill for at least 1 month and up to 6 months. This strict definition is based on both the legal (in Belgium) obligations that apply in the event of illness (from 14 days for manual workers and 1 month for white-collar workers) and various studies that show that the sooner the focus is on returning to work, the greater the chance of resuming work. The researchers have opted for \> 14 days (manual workers) and \> 1 month (white-collar workers) because wages are guaranteed up to this period and from then on, the employee must submit an application to the health insurance fund to receive disability benefits (= primary disability). The researchers opt for a maximum of 6 months of illness because it has been shown that the chances of successfully returning to work decrease dramatically. Focusing on the first 6 months allows for a thorough analysis of the group that still has the best chance of effectively returning to work.

Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview will be conducted including a validated questionnaire (i.e. Return to work Self efficacy).

The healthcare professional back at work

This target group includes healthcare professionals who have returned to work after a period of at least one month of illness and have been back at work for a maximum of six months. This definition makes it possible to gain insight into the medium-term effects of returning to work, for example in the case of progressive employment or adjustments to the working environment. At the same time, the risk of biased responses is reduced, as healthcare professionals who have been back at work for more than six months may recall experiences less clearly or evaluate them differently over time.

Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.

Interventions

No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview will be conducted including a validated questionnaire (i.e. Return to work Self efficacy). OTHER

No intervention.

The healthcare professional on sick leave

No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted. OTHER

No intervention.

The healthcare professional back at work

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthcare professionals working in a Flemish healthcare institution and either on sick leave (1-6 months) or back at work (max 6 months).

You may qualify if:

• Healthcare professionals on sick leave (1-6 months) or back at work (max 6 months)
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Working in a Flemish healthcare institution

You may not qualify if:

• Persons younger than 18 years of age
• Non-Dutch-speaking participants (language barrier during interviews)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• PXL University College: lead
• Vitas: collaborator
• Korian: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Korian

Hasselt, Limburg, 3500, Belgium

Location

VitaS

Peer, Limburg, 3990, Belgium

Location

Study Officials

• Sharona Vonck, dr

  PXL University of applied sciences and arts

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Els Knippenberg, dr

CONTACT

+3211775225; els.knippenberg@pxl.be

Goele Theuwissen

CONTACT

+32 11 77 52 27; Goele.theuwissen@pxl.be

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 6 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Posted: February 25, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BE (2)