Healthcare ProfessionalsTNW WNNCT07431996
Back to Work: Perspective of the Employee (Original Language Dutch: Terug-naar-werk: Perspectief Van Werknemer)
An observational study of Healthcare Professionals, run by PXL University College at 2 sites in Belgium.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthcare Professionals
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesBelgium
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 1 Jul 2027
- How long will I take part?
- 6 Months
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
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).
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- Persons younger than 18 years of age
- Non-Dutch-speaking participants (language barrier during interviews)
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium2 sites
Korian
Hasselt, Limburg, 3500
Lucie Laboulle, +32 (0)485 60 18 61, lucie.laboulle@korian.be
VitaS
Peer, Limburg, 3990
Anka Vankerkom, +32 11 49 26 61, anka.vankerkom@vitas.be
About this study
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).
Read more
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.
- Conditions
- Healthcare Professionals
- Being tested
- 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 will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.
- Keywords
- healthcare professionals, obstacles and facilitating factors, empowerment strategies, retention policies, return to work, absenteeism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
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.
No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.Other
No intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Receives: Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview will be conducted including a validated questionnaire (i.e. Return to work Self efficacy). | |
| 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. Receives: Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (2)
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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthcare ProfessionalsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 6 Months
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- PXL University College
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Vitas, Korian
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sharona Vonck, dr, Study chair, PXL University of applied sciences and arts
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07431996
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SPP211
- Acronym
- TNW WN
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 25 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: 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.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Back to Work: Perspective of the Employee (Original Language Dutch: Terug-naar-werk: Perspectief Van Werknemer)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07431996
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TNW WN / SPP211
- Conditions
- Healthcare Professionals
- Keywords
- healthcare professionals, obstacles and facilitating factors, empowerment strategies, retention policies, return to work, absenteeism
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- PXL University CollegeUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Vitas, Korian
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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 design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 6 Months
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| The healthcare professional on sick leave | – | Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview will be conducted including a validated questionnaire (i.e. Return to work Self efficacy).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. |
| The healthcare professional back at work | – | Other: No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- 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).
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Persons younger than 18 years of age
- Non-Dutch-speaking participants (language barrier during interviews)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | The healthcare professional on sick leave |
| No intervention will be given. A semi-structured interview together with 1 validated questionnaire (i.e. Work Ability Index) will be conducted.No intervention. | Other | The healthcare professional back at work |
Primary outcome
Factors, needs and experiences
Time frame: Baseline
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.
2 secondary outcomes
Return-to-work self efficacy (RTWSE)
Time frame: Baseline
Work Ability Index
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. 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.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Sharona Vonck, dr study chair
PXL University of applied sciences and arts
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healthcare Professionals, run by PXL University College at 2 sites in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Els Knippenberg, dr (+3211775225, els.knippenberg@pxl.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Factors, needs and experiences (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Feb 2026.