Open AccessAdaptations made by rheumatoid arthritis patients to continue working: A pilot study of workplace challenges and successful adaptations
Author(s) -
Mancuso Carol A.,
Paget Stephen A.,
Charlson Mary E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
arthritis care & research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/1529-0131(200004)13:2<89::aid-anr3>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , autonomy , medicine , overtime , work (physics) , job satisfaction , sick leave , psychology , physical therapy , social psychology , engineering , mechanical engineering , political science , law
Objectives The goals of this pilot study were to use qualitative researchtechniques in a group of currently employed patients with rheumatoidarthritis (RA) to develop categories of challenges encountered inmaintaining employment and categories of successful adaptations made tocontinue working; and to identify obstacles considered to be persistentthreats to continued employment. Methods Patients were interviewed by telephone with a questionnaire composed ofstructured‐response format and open‐ended response format questionsfocusing on specific challenges and adaptations in the workplace. Results Of the 22 patients interviewed, 96% were women, mean age was 50years, 84% were college graduates, and the majority had light physicaljob demands and high autonomy over their work and hours worked.Patients encountered diverse challenges, such as fatigue, pain, typing,writing, physical requirements, maintaining a pleasantdisposition, working overtime, traveling for business, commuting,being on time, not being able to choose rest periods, and environmentalissues. Patients also made multiple adaptations to continue working,the most helpful being changing job or altering career path(36%), altering work hours (32%), using more disease‐modifyingantirheumatic drugs (27%), using car service (23%), sleeping more(18%), and working at home (14%). Patients were not at all confidentin their ability to continue working because of RA, and perceived thefollowing persistent threats to continued employment: fatigue (45%),not being able to use hands (45%), not being able to choose restperiods (27%), and commuting problems (18%). In addition, patientsconfronted psychological stresses, such as dealing with coworkers andsupervisors and balancing job and personal roles. These challenges andadaptations included unfavorable work‐related occurrences, or“negative work‐role events.” Conclusions Seemingly successfully employed patients with RA faced multiplechallenges and made major adaptations to maintain employment and stillperceived their employment to be in jeopardy because of RA. Thefindings of this study have important implications for screeningpatients at risk for negative work‐role events and for possiblework‐related and social support interventions aimed at preservingemployment.