An observational study in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), sponsored by Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc. Recruiting at 1 site in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-28.
Sponsored by Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc · Observational
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.
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.
752 studies on the registry are indexed under Musculoskeletal Diseases; 164 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 140 is above the median of 120 across 207 observational studies indexed under Musculoskeletal Diseases.
Browse Musculoskeletal Diseases studies →Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc is the lead sponsor of 305 studies on the registry; 84 are open to participants now.
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Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance by a major occupational health service in The Netherlands
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance according to the computer-assisted reintegration protocol
Other: The computer-assisted reintegration protocol for musculoskeletal disorders
Employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints receiving return-to-work guidance according to usual care.
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.
Time until full RTW
The number of days from start sick leave until full RTW for at least 28 days.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Time until partial return to work
The number of days from start sick leave until partly RTW.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Full return to work
Whether a participant fully returned to work for at least 28 days at the end of follow-up period (yes/no).
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Partial return to work
Whether a participant partial returned to work at the end of follow-up period (yes/no).
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Way of returning to work
The way a participant returned to work (at the own job/company, with our without adjustments).
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Current work ability
Measured with the first question of the Work Ability Index (Tuomi et al., 1998)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Presenteeism
Presenteeism will be assessed using adapted items based on the iMTA Productivity Costs Questionnaire (iPCQ) (Bouwmans et al., 2015).
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Pain
The average pain score in the past week measured with a Numeric Rating Score (Hawker et al., 2011)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Self-reported health
Measured on a Visual Analogue Scale of the EQ-5D-5L (Herdman et al., 2011)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
Health-related quality of life
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)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), after 6 months (T2), after 9 months (T3), after 12 months (T4).
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Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc →