Randomised comparison of a multidisciplinary job-retention vocational rehabilitation program with usual outpatient care in patients with chronic arthritis at risk for job loss

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN55197693

Enrollment

140

Registered

2007-01-15

Start date

1999-03-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

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

Conditions

Chronic arthritis (including rheumatoid, psoriatic and reactive) Musculoskeletal Diseases Chronic arthritis

Interventions

The job retention vocational rehabilitation program was delivered at the department of Rheumatology of the Leiden University Medical Center by a multidisciplinary team comprising a rheumatologist, a s

prognosis regarding future impairments and activity limitations) and the coordinator (education level and previous jobs, systematic registration of the problems encountered in the current working situ

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged between 18 and 63 years 2. Has a chronic rheumatic disease (diagnosis Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]; Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS], psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE], or scleroderma) 3. All patients have a paid job (working full-time or part-time or being on sick leave, either with or without a partial work disability pension) 4. Having a self-perceived, disease related problem at work, threatening their ability to work

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Reaching the pensionable age within two years 2. Having another disease or situation influencing work ability

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The main outcome was the occurrence of job loss, defined as receiving an official full work disability pension or unemployment. The classification of job losses was based on the participants' records of their work status at every follow-up visit. Subjects being less then one year on full sick leave were classified as being in paid employment. In addition to job loss, the number of patients in whom the extent of the disability pension had increased (by receiving an official full disability pension or by receiving a new or a larger official partial disability pension) was recorded at every time point.	—

Measure

Time frame

The main outcome was the occurrence of job loss, defined as receiving an official full work disability pension or unemployment. The classification of job losses was based on the participants' records of their work status at every follow-up visit. Subjects being less then one year on full sick leave were classified as being in paid employment. In addition to job loss, the number of patients in whom the extent of the disability pension had increased (by receiving an official full disability pension or by receiving a new or a larger official partial disability pension) was recorded at every time point.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Satisfaction with the job, measured on a horizontal Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, range 0-10 cm). The anchor on the left was not at all satisfied and the anchor on the right was fully satisfied with the job. The VAS was only to be filled in by those subjects who had worked at least five days in the last month 2. Global assessments of pain and fatigue, measured on a VAS (0-10 cm). The anchors on the left were no pain and no fatigue whereas the anchors on the right were severe pain and severe fatigue 3. Physical functioning, using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), a 20-item questionnaire comprising eight domains of activities of daily living 4. Anxiety and depression were measured by means of a Dutch version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire (HADS). It contains two seven item scales: one for anxiety and one for depression both with a score range of zero to 21 5. Quality of life was measured using the RAND 36-item Health Survey. The RAND-36 was converted into two summary scales: the physical and mental component summary scales. The RAND includes the same items as the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF 36) and although the scoring procedures are somewhat different, the effects on final scores are minimal 6. From a social prospective, the cost-utility of a VR-program	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Satisfaction with the job, measured on a horizontal Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, range 0-10 cm). The anchor on the left was not at all satisfied and the anchor on the right was fully satisfied with the job. The VAS was only to be filled in by those subjects who had worked at least five days in the last month 2. Global assessments of pain and fatigue, measured on a VAS (0-10 cm). The anchors on the left were no pain and no fatigue whereas the anchors on the right were severe pain and severe fatigue 3. Physical functioning, using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), a 20-item questionnaire comprising eight domains of activities of daily living 4. Anxiety and depression were measured by means of a Dutch version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire (HADS). It contains two seven item scales: one for anxiety and one for depression both with a score range of zero to 21 5. Quality of life was measured using the RAND 36-item Health Survey. The RAND-36 was converted into two summary scales: the physical and mental component summary scales. The RAND includes the same items as the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF 36) and although the scoring procedures are somewhat different, the effects on final scores are minimal 6. From a social prospective, the cost-utility of a VR-program

—

Countries

Netherlands

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026