RESEARCH - Work factors and behavioral coping & withrawal from the work force in those with RA

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Work factors and behavioural coping in relation to withdrawal from the

labour force in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE To assess separate and combined effects of work factors and

behavioural coping in relation to withdrawal from the labour force among

patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted in a Dutch nationwide random

sample of 720 patients with RA. Information about work factors and

behavioural coping was collected by a self-administered postal

questionnaire. A broad variety of work factors and coping styles were

evaluated separately and in combination using multivariate logistic

regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic and disease related

variables. Attributable and preventable fractions were calculated from the

combined analyses to assess the relative importance of the contributing

factors.

RESULTS Additional job training, equal career opportunities, letting the

disease influence the choice of the current job position, and informing

colleagues about having the disease were negatively associated with

withdrawal from the labour force. The most relevant factor in terms of

decreasing the risk was adjusting job demands which accounted for 63% of the

patients still in the labour force. Decreasing activities and diverting

attention in order to cope with pain, and pacing in order to cope with

limitations were the coping styles which were positively associated with

withdrawal from the labour force. The most relevant factor in terms of

increasing the risk of withdrawal was pacing which accounted for 67% of the

withdrawals.

CONCLUSION Work factors are potentially important modifiable risk factors

for

withdrawal from the labour force in patients with RA. Behavioural coping is

also relevant.

(Ann Rheum Dis 2001;60:1025-1032)

http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/60/11/1025

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org