Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study.

Crohn's disease Employment Inflammatory bowel disease Ulcerative colitis Workplace disability

Journal

Inflammatory intestinal diseases
ISSN: 2296-9365
Titre abrégé: Inflamm Intest Dis
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101677990

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jun 2020
Historique:
received: 18 10 2019
accepted: 21 02 2020
entrez: 30 6 2020
pubmed: 1 7 2020
medline: 1 7 2020
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character. We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations. Between November 2017 and March 2018, IBD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. The survey assessed employment, the need for workplace accommodations and the difficulty arranging it, insurance, and disability using the item-reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index for self-report (IBD-DI-SR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression modeling. One hundred twenty-three patients were included (response rate 64%), 112 of whom reported that they experienced symptoms while working (60% female, 71% Crohn's disease, mean age 41.9 years). Ninety-one percent needed at least 1 workplace accommodation when symptoms were most severe. Almost half of the patients who needed an accommodation had difficulty arranging it. The most needed accommodations were time to go to medical appointments (71%) and easy access to a suitable toilet (71%). Being female, having less effective medication, and being distressed were associated with the need for 2 or more accommodations, difficulty in arranging accommodations, and not asking for needed accommodation. Many IBD patients need accommodations at work while symptomatic in order to overcome workplace disability, which can be difficult to arrange. Improved resources are needed to inform employees and employers about the disease, the possibilities for workplace accommodations, and practical strategies to request them.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character.
GOALS OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations.
STUDY METHODS
Between November 2017 and March 2018, IBD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. The survey assessed employment, the need for workplace accommodations and the difficulty arranging it, insurance, and disability using the item-reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index for self-report (IBD-DI-SR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression modeling.
RESULTS RESULTS
One hundred twenty-three patients were included (response rate 64%), 112 of whom reported that they experienced symptoms while working (60% female, 71% Crohn's disease, mean age 41.9 years). Ninety-one percent needed at least 1 workplace accommodation when symptoms were most severe. Almost half of the patients who needed an accommodation had difficulty arranging it. The most needed accommodations were time to go to medical appointments (71%) and easy access to a suitable toilet (71%). Being female, having less effective medication, and being distressed were associated with the need for 2 or more accommodations, difficulty in arranging accommodations, and not asking for needed accommodation.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Many IBD patients need accommodations at work while symptomatic in order to overcome workplace disability, which can be difficult to arrange. Improved resources are needed to inform employees and employers about the disease, the possibilities for workplace accommodations, and practical strategies to request them.

Identifiants

pubmed: 32596259
doi: 10.1159/000506702
pii: iid-0005-0084
pmc: PMC7315202
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

84-92

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2020 by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Dr. Bernstein is supported in part by the Bingham Chair in Gastroenterology. He serves on advisory boards for Abbvie Canada, Janssen Canada, Shire Canada, Takeda Canada, Pfizer, and Ferring Canada and has consulted to Mylan Pharmaceuticals and 4-D Pharma. He has received educational grants from Abbvie Canada, Pfizer Canada, Shire Canada, Takeda Canada, and Janssen Canada and is on the speaker's panel for Ferring Canada and Shire Canada. For the remaining authors no conflict of interests exists.

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Auteurs

Emma Paulides (E)

Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Charlotte Daker (C)

Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Chris Frampton (C)

Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Richard B Gearry (RB)

Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Tim Eglinton (T)

Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Nanne K H de Boer (NKH)

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Charles N Bernstein (CN)

Section of Gastroenterology, Max Rady School of Medicine and University of Manitoba IBD Clinical and Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Andrew M McCombie (AM)

Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Classifications MeSH