Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Author, year | Country | Aims | Type of eHealth intervention | Intervention A: based on theory B: based on empirical evidence | Design | User group | Context | Stakeholders | Work-related outcomes |
| De Jong et al. (2009)60 | Netherlands | Examine feasibility of a web-based counseling program | Web-based counseling program, website | B | Semi-structured in-depth interviews | Employees sick-listed due to non-specific back or neck pain | Occupational health care | OPs | Self-reports of whether the program helped the employees RTW faster |
| Bee et al. (2010)55 | United Kingdom (England) |
Examine feasibility and pilot testing of telephone-delivered CBT | Telephone-delivered CBT | B | Pilot RCT | Employees sick-listed due to mental health condition | Workplace | CBT therapists | Self-reported actual and effective working hours |
| Sullivan et al. (2012)62 | Canada | Examine feasibility of a telephonic occupational rehabilitation program | Telephonic occupational rehabilitation program | B | Matched control study | Patients with chronic musculoskeletal condition | Community of residence | Occupational therapists | Clinician-reported RTW: Not working, modified-, part-time, or full-time work |
| Vonk Noordegraaf et al. (2014)22 | Netherlands | Evaluate effectiveness of an eHealth intervention | Web-based program, website | B | Multicenter RCT | Patients scheduled for gynecological surgery | Secondary health care | Clinical OPs and occupational therapist | Duration of sick leave until full sustainable RTW |
| Brown et al. (2015)61 | United Kingdom (Scotland) |
Evaluate effectiveness of a telephone-based sick leave management service | Telephone-based sick leave management | B | Time-series analysis | Employees with all type of sick leave diagnoses | Workplace and OHS | Trained staff at the OHS | Percentage reduced sick leave |
| Volker et al. (2015)8 | Netherlands | Evaluate effectiveness of a blended eHealth intervention | Blended web-based intervention, Return@Work with email decision aid | B | RCT | Employees sick-listed due to common mental disorder | Occupational health care | OPs | Duration until first RTW, until full RTW, and total number of days on sick leave |
| Tamminga et al. (2016)7 | Netherlands | Develop and examine the feasibility of an eHealth intervention to enhance RTW | Internet program Cancer@Work, website | A & B | Mixed-method, semi-structured interviews, telephone interviews, and questionnaires | Cancer survivors | Secondary health care | OPs, GPs, specialized nurses, and employers | Need for support regarding RTW |
| Beiwinkel et al. (2017)58 | Germany | Evaluate effectiveness | Interactive web-based program Therapist feedback upon request via email or telephone |
B | Open-label RCT | Employees sick-listed due to depression | Statutory health insurance company and a private integrated care company | Psychologists or other therapists trained in the intervention approach | Information on work absence frequency was retrieved from health insurance records |
| Bouwsma et al. (2017)53 | Netherlands | Evaluate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an internet-based care program | Interactive web portal | A & B | Step-wedge cluster RCT | Patients scheduled for gynecological surgery | Secondary health care | Gynecologists, GPs, and OPs |
Duration until full sustainable RTW |
| Hara et al. (2017)56 | Norway | Evaluate effect of boosted RTW follow-up after occupational rehab | Telephone or videoconference follow-up | A & B | Pragmatic RCT | Patients with musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and common mental disorder | Secondary health care | RTW coordinators | Full or partial RTW |
| Deady et al. (2018)63 | Australia | Evaluate the usability, acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy | Smartphone app–based intervention, HeadGear |
B | Feasibility and acceptability study | Employees with mental health problems | Workplace | Self-management | Self-reported sick days past month |
| Kaldo et al. (2018)54 | Sweden | Evaluate effectiveness of internet-based CBT targeting work-related areas | Internet-based CBT, website | B | RCT | Patients with depression | Primary health care | Clinical psychologist | Employment status and number of full-time sick-leave days per month |
| Notenbomer et al. (2018)26 | Netherlands | Evaluate effect of an eHealth intervention | Personalized web-based intervention with feedback and advice | A & B | Three-armed RCT | Employees with frequent sickness absence | Workplace | Employer, GP, or OP | Number of sickness absence episodes and total sickness absence days |
| Van der Meij et al. (2018)57 | Netherlands | Evaluate effect of a personalized interactive eHealth-care program | Interactive, tailored eHealth care, with feedback and chat line; website and mobile application with activity tracker | B | Multicenter single-blind RCT | Patients scheduled for abdominal surgery | Hospitals | Health care professional at hospitals | Time until first day of work resumption and days of complete work resumption |
| Suman et al. (2019)59 | Netherlands | Assess effectiveness and cost-utility | Multifaceted eHealth strategy including a website, digital monthly newsletters, and social media platforms | B | Stepped-wedge cluster RCT | Patients diagnosed with non-specific low back pain | Primary health care | Self-management Patients were recruited from their GPs, OPs, and physical therapists |
Self-reported mean number of absence days over previous three months |
CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy; GP, general practitioner; OHS, occupational health service; OP, occupational physician; RCT, randomized controlled trial; RTW, return to work