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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Healthcare Professionals
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: 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 will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Els Knippenberg, dr; Phone Number: +3211775225; Email: els.knippenberg@pxl.be
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Goele Theuwissen; Phone Number: +32 11 77 52 27; Email: Goele.theuwissen@pxl.be

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Limburg
    • Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium, 3500
      • Korian
      • Contact: Lucie Laboulle; Phone Number: +32 (0)485 60 18 61; Email: lucie.laboulle@korian.be
    • Peer, Limburg, Belgium, 3990
      • Vitas
      • Contact: Anka Vankerkom; Phone Number: +32 11 49 26 61; Email: anka.vankerkom@vitas.be

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• 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).

Description

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)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
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).; No intervention.
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.; No intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Return-to-work self efficacy (RTWSE)	The RTWSE is a scale developed to measure return-to-work self efficacy and reveals three underlying factors: job demands, modifying tasks, and communicating needs. The questions of the RTWSE will be asked during the semi-structured interview. A higher score (scale 1-10) indicates greater confidence in a successful return to work.	Baseline
Work Ability Index	The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a scientifically based questionnaire that measures the extent to which employees are physically and mentally capable of performing their current job, now and in the near future. The instrument (score 7-49) assesses the balance between workload and personal capacity. The higher the score, the better the balance.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: PXL University College
• Collaborators: Korian; Vitas
• Investigators: Study Chair: Sharona Vonck, dr, PXL University of applied sciences and arts

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: absenteeism; return to work; healthcare professionals; obstacles and facilitating factors; empowerment strategies; retention policies
• Other Study ID Numbers: SPP211

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared. Due to the sensitive nature of the study population (healthcare professionals discussing health-related absence and return-to-work experiences) and the qualitative components of the research, sharing raw individual-level data could pose a risk to participant confidentiality and re-identification.

Only processed, aggregated, and anonymized data will be made available through publications and reports. In qualitative dissemination, fully anonymized excerpts or quotations may be used to illustrate findings, ensuring that no individual or organization can be identified.

This approach is in line with GDPR regulations and the ethical approval obtained for the study, which prioritizes the protection of participant privacy and confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No