Outpatient work-related medical rehabilitation with real workplace training (REAL)

Background: Studies suggest that interventions combining clinical treatment with components delivered at the individual’s workplace can reduce time to return to work and the duration of sick leave in people with musculoskeletal disorders compared with usual care. High-quality evidence for this approach within the German healthcare system, however, is currently lacking. Our study compares work-related medical rehabilitation (WMR) incorporating workplace training conducted at the individual’s actual workplace with conventional WMR, in which workplace training is delivered at the rehabilitation center.
Methods: The study is designed as a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Participants are recruited from seven outpatient rehabilitation centers. We include rehabilitation patients aged 18 to 65 years with musculoskeletal disorders (ICD-10 codes M00–M99) admitted through the regular application procedure (i.e., not post-acute rehabilitation), who are currently employed and have work-related treatment needs. We assess patient-reported data using questionnaires at four time points: prior to workplace training, at the end of rehabilitation, and 3 and 12 months post-rehabilitation. In addition, guided interviews are conducted with rehabilitation patients, rehabilitation center staff, and employers. Our primary outcome is the duration of sick leave. Secondary outcomes include measures of health, work ability, and additional patient-reported outcomes.