RESEARCH - Preventing work disability among employees with RA: what medical professionals can learn for the patients' perspective

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Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Dec 15;53(6):965-72.

Preventing work disability among employees with rheumatoid arthritis: what

medical professionals can learn from the patients' perspective.

Varekamp I, Haafkens JA, Detaille SI, Tak PP, van Dijk FJ.

Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

i.varekamp@...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the perspectives of employees with rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) with those of medical professionals regarding what persons

with RA need to prevent work disability. METHODS: Concept mapping was

conducted in a group session with 21 employees and by mail with 17 medical

professionals. Each group was asked to formulate statements on what enables

employees with RA to retain their jobs. Group members scored all statements

for importance and clustered them into themes. Results were statistically

aggregated at the group level. RESULTS: The concept mapping with employees

yielded 59 statements, which were clustered into 7 themes. The 4 most

important themes were employer support; understanding and acceptance of

illness by employees themselves; suitable working conditions; and support

from colleagues, health professionals, and the patient's organization. The

concept mapping with medical professionals yielded 65 statements, which were

clustered into 8 themes. The 6 most important themes were well-informed

professionals who cooperate effectively; employees' coping capacities and

commitment to work; financial regulations at the workplace; adequate social

security provisions, medication, and therapy; a positive attitude on the

part of employers and colleagues; and suitable working conditions.

CONCLUSION: Factors that enable continued employment lie at different

levels, including the psychosocial, practical, organizational, and social

policy levels. Health professionals appear to underestimate factors that are

important from the patient's perspective, especially support from employers.

In discussing work with patients, health professionals need to address

themes that are important from the patient's perspective.

PMID: 16342108

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=16342108

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