Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
Conditions
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.
Detailed description
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. This protocol is characterized by an evidence-based, early, intensive and multidisciplinary approach. A non-randomized controlled study will compare employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints who are at high risk of long-term sick leave and receive care based on the computer-assisted reintegration protocol (n = 70) with employees receiving usual care (n = 70). The primary outcome will be time until full return to work. Secondary outcomes will include time until partial return to work , full and partial return to work (yes/no), way of return to work (at the own job/company, with our without adjustments), work ability, work productivity, pain, self-reported health and health-related quality of life. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at baseline and after three, six, nine and 12 months. Furthermore, data will be obtained from the occupational health service's register. Alongside the effectiveness study, economic and process evaluations will be conducted.
Interventions
OTHERThe computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders
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.
Sponsors
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Arbo Unie
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18-65 years * Self-reported musculoskeletal complaints as primary reason for sick leave * High risk of long-term sick leave
Exclusion criteria
* Musculoskeletal complaints due to pregnancy * Retirement within one year * Sick leave duration of \>18 days
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time until full RTW | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | The number of days from start sick leave until full RTW for at least 28 days. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Presenteeism | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | Presenteeism will be assessed using adapted items based on the iMTA Productivity Costs Questionnaire (iPCQ) (Bouwmans et al., 2015). |
| Pain | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | The average pain score in the past week measured with a Numeric Rating Score (Hawker et al., 2011) |
| Self-reported health | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | Measured on a Visual Analogue Scale of the EQ-5D-5L (Herdman et al., 2011) |
| Health-related quality of life | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | A combination of five domains (mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/gloom) measured with the EQ-5D-5L (Herdman et al., 2011) |
| Full return to work | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | Whether a participant fully returned to work for at least 28 days at the end of follow-up period (yes/no). |
| Partial return to work | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | Whether a participant partial returned to work at the end of follow-up period (yes/no). |
| Way of returning to work | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | The way a participant returned to work (at the own job/company, with our without adjustments). |
| Current work ability | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | Measured with the first question of the Work Ability Index (Tuomi et al., 1998) |
| Time until partial return to work | Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4). | The number of days from start sick leave until partly RTW. |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
CONTACTJantine Maarleveld
STUDY_CHAIRHan Anema
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Outcome results
None listed