Trial Outcomes & Findings for Work And Vocational advicE Study - Effectiveness of Adding a Brief Vocational Support Intervention to Usual Primary Care (NCT NCT04543097)

NCT ID: NCT04543097

Last Updated: 2026-07-30

Results Overview

Self reported work absence calculated as the number of days off work over the previous 6 months (since randomisation).

Recruitment status

TERMINATED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

130 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

6 months

Results posted on

2026-07-30

Participant Flow

Patients were recruited from GP practices in three regions of England

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Usual Care
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Overall Study
STARTED
64
66
Overall Study
COMPLETED
49
45
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
15
21

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Work And Vocational advicE Study - Effectiveness of Adding a Brief Vocational Support Intervention to Usual Primary Care

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Usual Care
n=64 Participants
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
n=66 Participants
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Total
n=130 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
48.62 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.41 • n=20 Participants
49.30 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.31 • n=20 Participants
48.97 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.32 • n=40 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
43 Participants
n=20 Participants
47 Participants
n=20 Participants
90 Participants
n=40 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
21 Participants
n=20 Participants
19 Participants
n=20 Participants
40 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
46 Participants
n=20 Participants
51 Participants
n=20 Participants
97 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other ethnicity
4 Participants
n=20 Participants
4 Participants
n=20 Participants
8 Participants
n=40 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Missing or not stated
14 Participants
n=20 Participants
11 Participants
n=20 Participants
25 Participants
n=40 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Data are reported at the 6-month timepoint, there is some loss to follow-up.

Self reported work absence calculated as the number of days off work over the previous 6 months (since randomisation).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Usual Care
n=64 Participants
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
n=66 Participants
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Number of Days Absent From Work
42.66 Days absence
Standard Deviation 57.67
37.86 Days absence
Standard Deviation 48.76

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Data are reported at the 6-month timepoint, there is some loss to follow-up.

Work Productivity Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire to measure impairments to work and activities in the past seven days. The WPAI provides four sets of scores; absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss and activity impairment. It calculates four main scores calculated and expressed as percentages ranging from 0% to 100%. A higher percentage means a greater reduction in productivity and a higher level of impairment due to a health problem: 1. Absenteeism (\[hours missed due to health, divided by total hours should have worked\] multiplied by 100) 2. Presenteeism (how much health affected productivity 0 to 10, multiplied by 10) 3. Overall Work Impairment (total hours missed, plus \[remaining hours worked multiplied by the presenteeism score\]) 4. Activity Impairment (score for how much health affected regular activities 0 to 10, multiplied by 10).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Usual Care
n=39 Participants
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
n=42 Participants
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Work Interference
a) Absenteeism (work hours missed)
19.37 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 39.43
28.45 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 43.69
Work Interference
b) Presenteeism (reduced productivity at work)
34.85 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 34.38
33.33 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 31.44
Work Interference
c) Work productivity loss (combined absenteeism & presenteeism)
40.56 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 34.55
35.86 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 31.71
Work Interference
d) Activity impairment (affected unpaid daily activities)
38.21 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 32.51
42.00 Scores on a scale (0-100%)
Standard Deviation 37.84

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Data are reported at the 6-month timepoint, there is some loss to follow-up.

Single Item Productivity Questionnaire (SIPQ) measured using a Visual Analogue Scale with scores ranging from 0 (health has not impacted on work performance at all) to 10 (health is so bad participant has been unable to do their job) a higher score indicates a worse outcome.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Usual Care
n=39 Participants
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
n=42 Participants
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Work Performance
4.90 Scores on a scale (0-10)
Standard Deviation 3.67
4.30 Scores on a scale (0-10)
Standard Deviation 3.91

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Return to work self-efficacy evaluates an employee's confidence in their ability to successfully resume their job while managing a health condition. This is indicated with scores ranging from 1 (not at all confident) to 10 (totally confident), a lower score indicates poorer confidence.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Usual Care
n=39 Participants
Participants randomised to the usual care arm will continue to receive care as usual for their health and vocational needs. For most patients, this will comprise usual clinical care, without formal vocational advice.
Usual Care Plus Vocational Support
n=42 Participants
Vocational support following a stepped care model based on the principles of case management in addition to usual primary care.
Return to Work Self-efficacy (RTW-SE)
6.31 Scores on a scale (1-10)
Standard Deviation 2.59
6.05 Scores on a scale (1-10)
Standard Deviation 2.69

Adverse Events

Usual Care

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Usual Care Plus Vocational Support

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Prof Gwenllian Wynne-Jones

Keele University

Phone: 01782 732950

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place