Healthcare Professionals' Experiences with Vocational Rehabilitation for People with Inflammatory Arthritis.
Anne-Birgitte Madsen, Jette Primdahl, Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen and 2 others
PMID 40358882WHAT IT FOUND
Clinicians struggle to support patients with inflammatory arthritis because patients often hide their diagnosis from employers to avoid stigma.
Without disclosure, workplace adjustments and sick leave schemes cannot be activated, leaving patients to push through fatigue until they crash.
Key findings
01Healthcare professionals reported that patients frequently do not disclose their inflammatory arthritis to employers or colleagues due to fear of being seen as weak or burdensome.
02Non-disclosure prevents clinicians from arranging necessary workplace accommodations, assistive devices, or flexible hours, often leading to prolonged overload and full-time sick leave.
03Patients avoid using compensatory schemes like partial sick leave because they view them as a sign of vulnerability and fear permanent exclusion from the labour market.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relies on clinicians' perceptions of patients' experiences rather than direct patient data. Only one psychologist with rheumatology experience was included, limiting the range of psychological perspectives. Telephone interviews were used for some participants, which may have limited the depth of non-verbal communication captured. Findings are specific to the Danish healthcare and welfare system, which may not translate to other countries with different legal protections for employees.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Region of Southern Denmark, Knud and Edith Eriksens’ Memorial Fund, Danish Association of Occupational Therapists, Danish Rheumatism Association, and the University of Southern Denmark.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a patient's reluctance to use sick leave or workplace adjustments is due to a lack of understanding of their condition. The study suggests this behaviour is driven by a fear of stigma and job loss, meaning educational interventions alone will not change the behaviour without addressing the workplace culture and the patient's anxiety about disclosure.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →