Supporting return to work after post-COVID rehabilitation: a cluster randomized feasibility study

Supporting return to work after post-COVID rehabilitation: a cluster randomized feasibility study - RTW-PCR

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00036568

Enrollment

154

Registered

2025-04-01

Start date

2025-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-04-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

U09.9

Interventions

Group 1: Structured information about possible measures of usual care

Outpatient work-related support intervention in cooperation with rehabilitation facilities, German Pension Insurance institutions, and outpatient providers of vocational rehabilitation services as wel

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Included are patients who have completed post-COVID rehabilitation and have an existing workplace, for whom gradual reintegration within four weeks after rehabilitation is not possible, and whose work capacity in their previous job as well as in the general labor market is expected to be limited over the next six months. Beyond this period, a return to work is considered likely with additional support, according to the clinical judgment of the rehabilitation facility.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Patients with significant language barriers or severe impairments in daily life that make participation in the intervention impossible are excluded.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Self-rated work ability; How? Continuous, 0 to 10 points, Work Ability Score (Ilmarinen, 2007); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Frequency of relevant post-COVID symptoms; How? Binary, yes/no, self-developed (Bahmer et al. 2022, Geng et al. 2024); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Post-COVID symptom score; How? Continuous, 0 to 59 points, PSC score (Bahmer et al. 2022); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Post-/Long COVID Research Index; How? Continuous, 0 to 30 points, 2024 LC Research Index (Geng et al. 2024); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Functional limitations after SARS-CoV-2 infection; How? Continuous, 0 to 4 points, PCFS (Klok et al. 2020); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up General health; How? Continuous, 0 to 10 points, COPSOQ (Kristensen et al. 2005); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Fatigue; How? Continuous, 0 to 33 points, CFS (Cella & Chalder 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Depression; How? Continuous, 0 to 6 points, PHQ-4 (Löwe et al. 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Anxiety; How? Continuous, 0 to 6 points, PHQ-4 (Löwe et al. 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Dyspnea; How? Continuous, 0 to 40 points, CAT (Jones et al. 2009); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Pain; How? Continuous, 0 to 10 points, IRES-24 (Wirtz et al. 2005); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Memory and concentration performance; How? Continuous, 0 to 20 points, APSA (Bankstahl et al. 2013); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Current sickness absence; How? Binary, yes/no, self-developed; When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Cumulative sickness absence; How? Duration of sickness absence in the past 12 or 6 months in weeks, self-developed; When? End of rehabilitation,	—

Measure

Time frame

Frequency of relevant post-COVID symptoms; How? Binary, yes/no, self-developed (Bahmer et al. 2022, Geng et al. 2024); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Post-COVID symptom score; How? Continuous, 0 to 59 points, PSC score (Bahmer et al. 2022); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Post-/Long COVID Research Index; How? Continuous, 0 to 30 points, 2024 LC Research Index (Geng et al. 2024); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Functional limitations after SARS-CoV-2 infection; How? Continuous, 0 to 4 points, PCFS (Klok et al. 2020); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up General health; How? Continuous, 0 to 10 points, COPSOQ (Kristensen et al. 2005); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Fatigue; How? Continuous, 0 to 33 points, CFS (Cella & Chalder 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Depression; How? Continuous, 0 to 6 points, PHQ-4 (Löwe et al. 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Anxiety; How? Continuous, 0 to 6 points, PHQ-4 (Löwe et al. 2010); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Dyspnea; How? Continuous, 0 to 40 points, CAT (Jones et al. 2009); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Pain; How? Continuous, 0 to 10 points, IRES-24 (Wirtz et al. 2005); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Memory and concentration performance; How? Continuous, 0 to 20 points, APSA (Bankstahl et al. 2013); When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Current sickness absence; How? Binary, yes/no, self-developed; When? End of rehabilitation, 12-month follow-up, 18-month follow-up Cumulative sickness absence; How? Duration of sickness absence in the past 12 or 6 months in weeks, self-developed; When? End of rehabilitation,

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSofia Petrak

Universität zu Lübeck, Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie

sofia.petrak@uksh.de+49 451 50051287

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 1, 2026