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

Overview

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.

Interventions

• Other No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview will be conducted including a validated questionnaire (i.e. Return to work Self efficacy).
  No intervention.
• Other No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.
  No intervention.

Primary outcome measures

• Factors, needs and experiences [Time frame: Baseline]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Return-to-work self efficacy (RTWSE) [Time frame: Baseline]
• Work Ability Index [Time frame: Baseline]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• 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

Exclusion criteria

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

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Observational model

Cohort

Study locations

Belgium · 2 centers

• Korian — Hasselt
• VitaS — Peer

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07431996 · SPP211

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗