In Vitro Exposure by VR to Enhance Return to Work After Sick Leave Due to Mental Health Related Complaints

NCT ID: NCT06888999

Last Updated: 2026-01-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

118 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-11-17

Study Completion Date

2027-03-31

Brief Summary

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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

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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

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Return to Work Occupational Stress Self-Efficacy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized controlled trial comparing an intervention group with a care as usual group. Randomization is carried out at the individual level.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Due to the intervention, it is not possible to blind researchers, case provides, investigators and participants.

Study Groups

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Care as usual plus VR

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.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual

Intervention Type OTHER

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

Participants in the care as usual group receive care as usual from the occupational physician and a psychologist.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work

Intervention Type OTHER

Guidance by the occupational physician and a psychologist from a psychologist practice specialized in counseling cabin crew and guiding them with returning to work.

Interventions

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In vitro exposure to workplace by VR plus care as usual

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).

Intervention Type OTHER

Care as usual: Guidance from occupational physician and psychologist focused on returning to work

Guidance by the occupational physician and a psychologist from a psychologist practice specialized in counseling cabin crew and guiding them with returning to work.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

\- sick listed cabin crew with mental health related complaints that are referred by the occupational physician to a specific psychotherapist practice

Exclusion Criteria

* epilepsy
* vestibular disorder
* no signed informed consent
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

KLM Health Services

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Villa Uitzicht

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Roosmarijn Schelvis

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Roosmarijn M.C. Schelvis, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Amsterdam UMC

Locations

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KLM Health Services

Schiphol, , Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Netherlands

Central Contacts

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Maartje C. Bakhuys Roozeboom, PhD

Role: CONTACT

0031619352778

Facility Contacts

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Ruby Corveleijn

Role: primary

0031 020 6491415

References

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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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37179888 (View on PubMed)

Muschalla 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.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20207103 (View on PubMed)

Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 6668417 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2025.0183

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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