Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39900421›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey-data linkage study protocol.

Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de Oca, Laura Int Panis, Mathieu Verbrugghe, Els De Waegeneer, Barbara Cagnie, Bas de Geus, Robby De Pauw

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de OcaIACCHOS, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium eduardo.bracho@uclouvain.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5072-0995
Laura Int PanisIACCHOS, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-7399-8152
Mathieu VerbruggheMensura Externe dienst voor preventie en bescherming, Brussel, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2499-9977
Els De WaegeneerMensura Externe dienst voor preventie en bescherming, Brussel, Belgium.
Barbara CagnieDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4342-4519
Bas de GeusIACCHOS, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7447-0230
Robby De PauwDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4242-9062

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe transition from traditional office work to telework has accelerated significantly since the late 20th century, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its widespread adoption, the long-term health impacts of telework remain unclear. This study seeks to clarify the telework-health relationship by integrating longitudinal self-reported health data with health-related administrative records. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An online self-reported longitudinal survey with four follow-ups of 6 months each, starting in November 2024, will be set up and linked with administrative data sources. In total, a non-probabilistic sample of 5000 non-teleworkers and teleworkers will be recruited. This survey will mainly assess the effect of teleworking on mental (eg, depression and anxiety) and physical (eg, pain) health. Administrative data (eg, healthcare consumption contacts and socioeconomic status) will be extracted from Belgian administrative data sources (Statistics Belgium and the InterMutualistic Agency) for the same period. This administrative data will be linked to the survey data using the Social Security ID. The underlying relationships between telework and health will be analysed via regression models and mediation models embedded in the natural effects framework. The analysis will aim to (1) identify the impact of telework on self-reported health and administrative data, (2) identify the moderators and mediators between the telework-health relationship, (3) understand the long-term patterns of telework and health interaction and (4) predict the health outcomes of teleworkers. To mitigate biases associated with non-probabilistic samples and attrition, standardised probability weights scoring will be derived from the data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study involves human participants and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent (Nr°. ONZ-2023-0630). The participants will participate in the study after signing an informed consent form. The study will be disseminated in academic journals, on (social) media and on the project website.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health StatusTeleworkingBelgiumHumansLongitudinal StudiesMental HealthResearch DesignSARS-CoV-2Self ReportSurveys and QuestionnairesTelemedicineEPIDEMIOLOGYPUBLIC HEALTHSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID39900421
PMCPMC11795372

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.