Back on Track: Evaluation of an Occupational Reintegration Protocol for Employees With Musculoskeletal Disorders

NCT07793526 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025.0374
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of the Back on Track study is to evaluate a computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders of a major occupational health service in the Netherlands on its (cost-)effectiveness and conduct a process evaluation. The computer-assisted reintegration protocol aims to reduce sick leave duration and sick-leave associated costs, with the intention to mitigate the impact of sick leave for both employee and employer. Furthermore, this study might provide valuable insights for the improvement of reintegration guidance for workers with musculoskeletal disorders in general.

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Time until full RTW

  The number of days from start sick leave until full RTW for at least 28 days.

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Time until partial return to work

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

• Full return to work

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

• Partial return to work

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

• Way of returning to work

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

• Current work ability

  Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).

Study Arms (2)

Intervention: the computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders

Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance according to the computer-assisted reintegration protocol

Other: The computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders

Control: usual care

Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance according to usual care.

Interventions

The computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders OTHER

The computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders provides an operationalization of the NVAB-guidelines of 'Low Back Pain and Radicular Syndrome' (Luites et al., 2020) and 'Complaints of Arm, Neck and Shoulder' (Elders et al., 2014) and the Dutch Gatekeeper Act. It is designed for occupational health professionals that are involved in the reintegration process of employees on high risk for long term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders. It starts from the third week of sick leave until the employee has returned, for a maximum of two years. The central themes of the protocol are an evidence-based, early, intensive and a multidisciplinary approach.

Intervention: the computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders

Eligibility Criteria

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

Study Population

Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance by a major occupational health service in The Netherlands

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18-65 years
• Self-reported musculoskeletal complaints as primary reason for sick leave
• High risk of long-term sick leave

You may not qualify if:

• Musculoskeletal complaints due to pregnancy
• Retirement within one year
• Sick leave duration of \>18 days

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc: lead
• Arbo Unie: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Arbo Unie

Utrecht, Netherlands

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Han Anema

  Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Jantine Maarleveld

CONTACT

+31625684599; j.maarleveld@amsterdamumc.nl

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 21, 2026
• First Posted: August 28, 2026
• Study Start: July 29, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

NL (1)