Participation in paid and unpaid work by adults with RA

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J Rheumatol. 2004 Jan;31(1):47-56.

Participation in paid and unpaid work by adults with rheumatoid

arthritis.

Kennedy SM, Chalmers A, Singer J.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of British Columbia,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To define determinants of participation in paid and unpaid

work by adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A survey was

designed in consultation with working age (< 65 yrs) adults with RA and

sent to 269 patients recruited through 5 rheumatology practices. Hours

worked " last week " was the measure of participation in employment and

unpaid work (household, home maintenance, caregiving, studying, and

volunteering). Potential determinants, conceptually organized as

attributes of the person, environment, or occupation, were ascertained.

RESULTS: Recruitment response rate was 40% of patients invited, and 89%

of those recruited submitted complete surveys. The 239 respondents were

mostly women (81%), with mean age 50 years and duration of RA 13 years.

Respondents reported an average of 47 hours of work: 19 paid and 28

unpaid hours. Regression analyses indicated more hours of paid work were

associated with psychologically demanding work, higher social function,

less pain, being male, managerial job type, and lower ratings of

occupational balance. More hours of unpaid work were associated with

more children in the household, greater perceived physical and

psychological demand of the work, social support from family, and having

a post-secondary education. Work limitations, reported by 73

respondents, were associated with lower functional status, more pain,

and less psychologically demanding work.

CONCLUSION: Factors associated with greater participation in paid work

differed from those associated with unpaid work. Work limitation affects

both paid and unpaid workers. Work-related rehabilitation and education

programs may be enhanced by addressing factors identified by this sample

of paid and unpaid workers.

PMID: 14705218