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Rheumatoid ArthritisMIWNCT01852851

Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work

A study testing Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of an on-line eLearning program (entitled Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work) designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 59 years
What is being tested?
Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
528 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
Jun 2013to May 2027
Phase
Interventional
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 to 59 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Between ages 18 and 59 years
  • Able to read and write English
  • Have inflammatory arthritis confirmed by a rheumatologist (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Psoriatic Arthritis, Other Connective Tissue Diseases and Spondylarthropathy)
  • Have access to a computer, a web-cam, a headset and a printer, or willingness to purchase these items
  • Are willing to travel to Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Cranbrook or Kamloops, Calgary, Toronto, Newmarket or Brampton for one visit with an occupational therapist

Who cannot join

  • Individuals who are not working
  • Individuals on sick leave, short term or long term work disability
  • Students
  • People performing unpaid work such as volunteer work or taking care of family
  • People planning to retire in the next six years
  • Individuals unable to provide informed consent
  • Individuals living outside of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site

  • Arthritis Research Centre

    Richmond, British Columbia, V6X 2C7

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an On-line Program to Help People With Inflammatory Arthritis Remain Employed

The investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of an on-line eLearning program (entitled Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work) designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. The program also includes assessments with 1) an occupational therapist, and 2) a vocational rehabilitation counsellor at the end of the program to help participants identify and obtain necessary changes at work. People from three provinces will be recruited from collaborators' patient and program recipient lists. The study group will receive the program intervention and the control group will receive "usual care" and printed educational material. All participants will be followed for five years. The effectiveness of the program at improving at work productivity and reducing work cessation will be evaluated compared to a control group receiving printed material on employment and arthritis.

Being tested
Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work
Medical subject headings
Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Spondylitis, Ankylosing, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Arthritis, Psoriatic, Spondylarthropathies

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Employment and Arthritis: Making it WorkBehavioural

    A ten week on-line eLearning program designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. The program consists of 1) 5 interactive web-based eLearning modules that participants will complete individually in between the weekly group sessions, 2) 5 weekly group sessions conducted as virtual real-time web-based group meetings led by a trained facilitator, 3) asynchronous communications such as a message board to facilitate additional interactions among participants, 4) consultations with an occupational therapist (in-person)for an ergonomic assessment, and a vocational rehabilitation counsellor (on-line consultation using web technology) for job retention vocational counselling.

Study groups in NCT01852851
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intervention GroupActive comparatorThe intervention group will participate in the on-line eLearning program, an ergonomic assessment by an Occupational Therapist and job retention vocational counselling by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor
Receives: Behavioral: Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work
Control GroupNo interventionThe control group will receive "usual care" and receive printed educational materials about work and arthritis.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Efficacy analysis of at work productivity

    Primary outcome for efficacy analysis of at-work productivity will be measured using the Work Instability Scale (WIS)

    Measured: 2 years post intervention

  2. Efficacy analysis of work cessation

    Primary outcome for efficacy analysis of work cessation is time to complete work cessation, defined as complete cessation of work due to any reason, for at least six months.

    Measured: Over 5 years of follow up

  3. Cost effectiveness analysis of at work productivity

    Primary outcome for cost effectiveness analysis of at work productivity will be measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)

    Measured: 2 years post intervention

Secondary outcomes (9)

  1. Temporary work cessation

    Time to temporary cessation of work for any reason (E.g. sick leave or temporary work disability and short periods of unemployment) for more than 2 months but less than 6 months

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  2. Occasional work absence

    Number of days missed from work per year, measured by self report

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  3. Reduction in usual amount of time worked

    Reduction in hours per week worked per year, measured by self report

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  4. Changes in employment risk factors

    Changes from baseline in job satisfaction, self-efficacy at work, work-related risk factors for work disability (physical demand, job autonomy, difficulty commuting, self-employment and support from co-workers, employers and family), job accommodations and job type, measured by self report

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  5. At-work productivity

    Evaluating maintenance of effect on at work productivity over 5 years using the Work Instability Scale (WIS)

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  6. At work productivity

    Evaluating maintenance of effect on at work productivity over 5 years using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  7. At work productivity

    New scale being developed and validated to measure at work productivity. Based on a combination of Workplace Activity Limitations Scale (WALS) and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ).

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  8. Cost utility analysis of at work productivity

    Outcome for cost utility analysis of at work productivity will be quality adjusted life year (QALY) measured using EQ-5D.

    Measured: 2 years post intervention

  9. Cost utility analysis of at work productivity

    Outcome for cost utility analysis of at work productivity will be quality adjusted life year (QALY) measured using SF-6D.

    Measured: 2 years post intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 May 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2013
  3. Primary completionMar 2025
  4. Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
528 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01852851
Sponsor's protocol ID
H11-03527
Acronym
MIW
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
13 Apr 2012
Last updated
1 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Carruthers EC, Rogers P, Backman CL, Goldsmith CH, Gignac MA, Marra C, Village J, Li LC, Esdaile JM, Lacaille D. "Employment and arthritis: making it work" a randomized controlled trial evaluating an online program to help people with inflammatory arthritis maintain employment (study protocol). BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2014 Jul 21;14:59. doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-14-59.

    PubMed 25043631

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

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 5 inclusion and 7 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. 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?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Efficacy analysis of at work productivity (time frame: 2 years post intervention). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01852851, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 1 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.

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