Ask to take part

Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Dr Fehmidah Munir
+44 (0)1509 228228
f.munir@lboro.ac.uk


Study Location:

Find another location


Questions to ask
Skip to Main Content
English | Cymraeg
Be Part of Research - Trial Details - PROWORK: promoting a sustainable and healthy return to work toolkit for employers and their employees
Back

PROWORK: promoting a sustainable and healthy return to work toolkit for employers and their employees

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

Loughborough

Medical Conditions

Reducing long-term sick leave in employees with a common mental health condition as a main condition or alongside another condition

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


The purpose of the return to work pilot study is to provide employees on long-term sick leave with early and positive workplace communication that supports the employee’s wellbeing whilst on sick leave and when returning to work.

Many people go on long-term sick leave for lots of different reasons including back pain, poor mental health and conditions that might need treatment or recovery time. Sometimes, those on long-term sick leave might experience poor mental wellbeing even if that is not the reason for their sick leave. Research shows that poor mental wellbeing is linked to longer lengths of sickness absence. However, a number of studies show that employees who experience good quality communication and contact with their workplace can feel positive about their work, are more likely to feel ready to return to work and to also return to work earlier than they expected. They are also further likely to have a more positive work experience once they are back at work.

Our return to work pilot study, called PROWORK, provides employees who are on sick leave with an online toolkit they can access from a website. The online toolkit provides new guidance and step-by-step support from initial sick leave through to returning to work for the employee. The employee’s manager, workplace return-to-work contact or employer will be asked to use a similar online toolkit that provides them with step-by-step guidance in how to support the employee whilst on sick leave and when returning to work.

Our research wants to see how practical it is for employees on long term sick leave and the person responsible for managing their return to work to use the online toolkits and to follow the steps. We also want to see whether the toolkits are effective in reducing the number of days an employee is on long-term sick leave.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

11 Jan 2021 31 Oct 2023

Publications

2022 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35986424/ (added 22/08/2022)2023 Other publications in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37660008/ Toolkit development (added 25/04/2025)

What does the study involve?
Participant organisations will be randomly allocated to the control group or the intervention group using the PROWORK intervention toolkit.
The PROWORK intervention is a multicomponent intervention promoting recovery and return to work in employees. The employee intervention toolkit has three distinct steps where each step outlines self-led actions the employee can take to support them whilst on sick leave and when returning to work step 1: managing sick leave, step 2: preparing to return to work, and step 3: Being back at work. Each step has self-led actions that are underpinned by behaviour change methods (commitment, social support, communication, action planning, goal-setting, self-monitoring, framing/reframing, reducing negative emotions, problem-solving and graded tasks). The use of the toolkit is supported by three 1-hour health coaching sessions.

What are the possible benefits and risk of participating?
1. Organisations in the intervention group will receive a report on the study outcomes and may continue using the intervention resources.
2. Organisations in the control group will receive a personalised report on their return to work processes
3. Employee participants receiving the intervention may experience health benefits and feel better supported by their line manager.
A potential risk is that the employee may feel coerced into participating by their employer (who will send the employee the study information after the employer has identified them as being on long-term sick leave). However, every effort will be made to reduce this risk by information the organisation on the study protocol, promoting the study before the trial starts and by the research team checking with each employee that their participation is entirely voluntary before consenting them.

Where is the study run from?
Loughborough University (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2020 to October 2023

Who is funding the study?
Midlands Engine (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Fehmidah Munir, f.munir@lboro.ac.uk


1. Organisations interested in supporting their employees during sick leave and upon their return to work
2. Employees who are on long-term sick leave in the participating organisations
3. Line managers who are managing an employee on long term sick leave in the participating organisations

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


Employee: 1. Under 18 years of age2. On sick leave with a psychotic episode such as schizophrenia, or with substance abuse 3. On sick leave whilst under formal investigation for misconduct or in the formal process of disciplinary action4. On sick leave being diagnosed with cancer and signed off work for at least 6 months5. On sick leave due to a neurological condition (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, dementia)


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Loughborough University
    School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Epinal Way
    Loughborough
    LE11 3TU

This information has not yet been provided by the study team. You'll have an opportunity to discuss any risks and benefits that may be associated with this study prior to consenting to taking part.

Dr Fehmidah Munir
+44 (0)1509 228228
f.munir@lboro.ac.uk



The study is sponsored by Loughborough University and funded by Midlands Engine.



We'd like your feedback

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.


Is this study information helpful?

What will you do next?
Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN90032009
Last updated 25 April 2025

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.   

Back to the top