Identification of modifiable work-related factors that influence the risk of work disability in rheumatoid arthritis | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Latimer, E. A., Lecomte, T., Becker, D. R., Drake, R, E., Duclos, I., Piat, M., Lahaie, N., St-Pierre, M. S., Therrien, C., & Xie, H.
Year Published	2004
Publication	Arthritis Care & Research
Volume	51
Number	5
Pages	843-852
Publisher	American College of Rheumatology
Background	Work disability is a common consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is particularly significant because RA affects individuals during their prime working years and had major financial implications for the individual and society at large.
Purpose	To define work-related factors associated with increased risk of work disability (WD) in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Setting	The setting was the Arthritis Society, British Columbia and Yukon division.
Sample	A total of 581 individuals answered the questionnaire.
Data Collection	Questionnaires were mailed to all RA patients who used a province-wide arthritis treatment program between 1991 and 1998 (n = 1,824). The association between risk factors and WD ( as no paid work due to RA for at least 6 months) was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for significant sociodemographic and disease-related variables.
Control	There was no control or comparison condition.
Findings	Work survival analysis revealed a steady rate of WD starting early, with 7.5%, 18%, and 27% work disabled at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Significant determinants in multiple logistic regression were physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire), pain (visual analog scale), and 6 work-related factors: self employment, workstation modification, work importance, family support toward employment, commuting difficulty, and comfort telling coworkers about RA.
Conclusions	Work disability occurs early in RA. Novel work-related factors were identified, which are potentially modifiable, to help RA patients stay employed.
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15478162
Disabilities
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition
NIDILRR Funded	No
Research Design	Mixed methods
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2004

Publication

Arthritis Care & Research

Volume

51

Number

5

Pages

843-852

Publisher

American College of Rheumatology

Background

Work disability is a common consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is particularly significant because RA affects individuals during their prime working years and had major financial implications for the individual and society at large.

Purpose

To define work-related factors associated with increased risk of work disability (WD) in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Setting

The setting was the Arthritis Society, British Columbia and Yukon division.

Sample

A total of 581 individuals answered the questionnaire.

Data Collection

Questionnaires were mailed to all RA patients who used a province-wide arthritis treatment program between 1991 and 1998 (n = 1,824). The association between risk factors and WD ( as no paid work due to RA for at least 6 months) was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for significant sociodemographic and disease-related variables.

Control

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings

Work survival analysis revealed a steady rate of WD starting early, with 7.5%, 18%, and 27% work disabled at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Significant determinants in multiple logistic regression were physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire), pain (visual analog scale), and 6 work-related factors: self employment, workstation modification, work importance, family support toward employment, commuting difficulty, and comfort telling coworkers about RA.

Conclusions

Work disability occurs early in RA. Novel work-related factors were identified, which are potentially modifiable, to help RA patients stay employed.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15478162

Disabilities

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition

NIDILRR Funded

No

Research Design

Mixed methods

Peer Reviewed

Yes