Return to WorkNCT06888999
In Vitro Exposure by VR to Enhance Return to Work After Sick Leave Due to Mental Health Related Complaints
A study testing In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual and Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work in people with Return to Work and Occupational Stress, run by Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) at 1 site in Netherlands.
Trial summary
The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to investigate whether in vitro exposure by VR enhances return to work (RTW) in flight cabin crew on sick leave with mental health related complaints. The main research questions are: 1. Does VR enhances time to RTW? 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Return to Work, Occupational Stress, Self-Efficacy
- What is being tested?
- In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual and Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 118 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNetherlands
- Study dates
- 17 Nov 2025to Mar 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- sick listed cabin crew with mental health related complaints that are referred by the occupational physician to a specific psychotherapist practice
Who cannot join
- epilepsy
- vestibular disorder
- no signed informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
KLM Health Services
Schiphol, 1117 CJ
Ruby Corveleijn, 0031 020 6491415, rcorveleijn.health@klm.com
About this study
The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to investigate whether in vitro exposure by VR enhances return to work (RTW) in flight cabin crew on sick leave with mental health related complaints. The main research questions are: 1. Does VR enhances time to RTW? 2. Does VR increase self-efficacy and positive cognitions regarding RTW, and decrease job anxiety? Researchers will compare a control group receiving care as usual as provided by the occupational physician and a psychologist to an intervention group receiving care as usual plus (al least) one session with VR-glasses in which participants are virtually exposed to their workplace.
Read the detailed description
This study evaluates the effectiveness of in vitro exposure to the workplace by means of VR to decrease time to RTW of sick-listed flight cabin crew with mental health related complaints compared to usual care. The study design is a pilot randomized controlled trial, including an intervention and control group. Sick-listed workers in the control group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist. Sick-listed workers in the intervention group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist and participate in a VR-session. During the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace. Data on the primary outcome of RTW is collected based on the register data from the occupational health service (6 and 12 months after baseline). Data on secondary outcomes (self-efficacy, cognitions regarding RTW and job anxiety) is collected with baseline and follow-up questionnaires (4 months after baseline).
- Conditions
- Return to Work, Occupational Stress, Self-Efficacy
- Being tested
- In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual, Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work
- Keywords
- virtual reality, return to work, pilot randomized controlled trial, cabin crew, stress, return to work self-efficacy, job anxiety, usability, return to work attitude
- Medical subject headings
- Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usualOther
During the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace using VR glasses. Based on the experience of the participants during the vitual visit to their workplace, the psychologist can adjust the therapy. In addition care as usual is provided (see description active comparator).
Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to workOther
Guidance by the occupational physician and a psychologist from a psychologist practice specialized in counseling cabin crew and guiding them with returning to work.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Care as usual plus VR | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist and participate (al least once) in a VR-session. During the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace. Receives: Other: In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual |
| Care as usual | Active comparator | Participants in the care as usual group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist. Receives: Other: Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Time to RTW
Time between start of sickness absence until participant is considered 'fit to fly' by the occupational physician, measured by register data from the occupational health service.
Measured: 6 months and 12 months after baseline
Secondary outcomes (4)
Stress-related complaints
Stress-related complaints (e.g., type of disease, severity of symptoms) by means of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The PSS-10 consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). A high score means more stress-related complaints
Measured: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Self-efficacy regarding return to work
Self-efficacy regarding return to work measured by Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy scale (RTW-SE). The RTW-SE contains of 11 items. The items are rated on a five point scale The response categories vary from 1 (totally disagree) to 6 (totally agree). A high score means more return to work self-efficacy
Measured: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Attitude regarding return to work
Scale on attitude regarding return to work. Attitude regarding return to work is measured with a 8-item scale measuring the attitude towards working again. The items are rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 1 (disagree very strongly) to 4 (agree very strongly). A higher score means a more positive attitude towards return to work.
Measured: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Job anxiety
Anxiety related to the job measured by the Job Anxiety Scale. The items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from of 0 (no agreement) to 4 (full agreement). A higher score means more job anxiety.
Measured: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Mar 2025
- Study start17 Nov 2025
- Primary completionNov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Return to WorkStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial comparing an intervention group with a care as usual group. Randomization is carried out at the individual level.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM Health Services, Villa Uitzicht
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Roosmarijn Schelvis, Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
- Investigators
- Roosmarijn M.C. Schelvis, PhD, Principal investigator, Amsterdam UMC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06888999
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025.0183
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: We will not publish the complete dataset to protect the privacy of the participants.
Publications
Schmalbach I, Schmalbach B, Kalkbrenner A, Bassler M, Hinz A, Petrowski K. Psychometric properties of the job anxiety scale. Front Psychol. 2023 Apr 25;14:1020596. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1020596. eCollection 2023.
PubMed 37179888Muschalla B, Linden M, Olbrich D. The relationship between job-anxiety and trait-anxiety--a differential diagnostic investigation with the Job-Anxiety-Scale and the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory. J Anxiety Disord. 2010 Apr;24(3):366-71. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 Feb 11.
PubMed 20207103Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.
PubMed 6668417
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- In Vitro Exposure by VR to Enhance Return to Work After Sick Leave Due to Mental Health Related Complaints
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06888999
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025.0183
- Conditions
- Return to Work, Occupational Stress, Self-Efficacy
- Keywords
- virtual reality, return to work, pilot randomized controlled trial, cabin crew, stress, return to work self-efficacy, job anxiety, usability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM Health Services, Villa Uitzicht
- Study start
- 17 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Mar 2025 (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 goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to investigate whether in vitro exposure by VR enhances return to work (RTW) in flight cabin crew on sick leave with mental health related complaints. The main research questions are: 1. Does VR enhances time to RTW? 2. Does VR increase self-efficacy and positive cognitions regarding RTW, and decrease job anxiety? Researchers will compare a control group receiving care as usual as provided by the occupational physician and a psychologist to an intervention group receiving care as usual plus (al least) one session with VR-glasses in which participants are virtually exposed to their workplace.
Detailed description
This study evaluates the effectiveness of in vitro exposure to the workplace by means of VR to decrease time to RTW of sick-listed flight cabin crew with mental health related complaints compared to usual care. The study design is a pilot randomized controlled trial, including an intervention and control group. Sick-listed workers in the control group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist. Sick-listed workers in the intervention group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist and participate in a VR-session. During the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace. Data on the primary outcome of RTW is collected based on the register data from the occupational health service (6 and 12 months after baseline). Data on secondary outcomes (self-efficacy, cognitions regarding RTW and job anxiety) is collected with baseline and follow-up questionnaires (4 months after baseline).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial comparing an intervention group with a care as usual group. Randomization is carried out at the individual level.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Care as usual plus VR | Experimental | Other: In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usualParticipants in the intervention group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist and participate (al least once) in a VR-session. During the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace. |
| Care as usual | Active comparator | Other: Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to workParticipants in the care as usual group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- sick listed cabin crew with mental health related complaints that are referred by the occupational physician to a specific psychotherapist practice
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- epilepsy
- vestibular disorder
- no signed informed consent
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 |
|---|---|---|
| In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usualDuring the VR-session, guided by the psychologist, participants are virtually exposed to their workplace using VR glasses. Based on the experience of the participants during the vitual visit to their workplace, the psychologist can adjust the therapy. In addition care as usual is provided (see description active comparator). | Other | Care as usual plus VR |
| Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to workGuidance by the occupational physician and a psychologist from a psychologist practice specialized in counseling cabin crew and guiding them with returning to work. | Other | Care as usual |
Primary outcome
Time to RTW
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months after baseline
Time between start of sickness absence until participant is considered 'fit to fly' by the occupational physician, measured by register data from the occupational health service.
4 secondary outcomes
Stress-related complaints
Time frame: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Self-efficacy regarding return to work
Time frame: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Attitude regarding return to work
Time frame: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
Job anxiety
Time frame: Baseline and 4-months follow-up
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 9 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 37179888Schmalbach I, Schmalbach B, Kalkbrenner A, Bassler M, Hinz A, Petrowski K. Psychometric properties of the job anxiety scale. Front Psychol. 2023 Apr 25;14:1020596. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1020596. eCollection 2023.
- Background: PubMed 20207103Muschalla B, Linden M, Olbrich D. The relationship between job-anxiety and trait-anxiety--a differential diagnostic investigation with the Job-Anxiety-Scale and the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory. J Anxiety Disord. 2010 Apr;24(3):366-71. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 Feb 11.
- Background: PubMed 6668417Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. We will not publish the complete dataset to protect the privacy of the participants.
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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.
Roosmarijn M.C. Schelvis, PhD principal investigator
Amsterdam UMC
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual and Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work in people with Return to Work and Occupational Stress, run by Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) at 1 site in Netherlands.
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 1 inclusion and 3 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jan 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 Netherlands. 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 Maartje C. Bakhuys Roozeboom, PhD (0031619352778, m.c.bakhuysroozeboom@amsterdamumc.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Time to RTW (time frame: 6 months and 12 months after baseline). 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 NCT06888999, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 9 Jan 2026.