Perspectives of People with a Chronic Disease on Participating in Work: A Focus Group Study.
Marloes Vooijs, Monique C J Leensen, Jan L Hoving and 2 others
PMID 28101790WHAT IT FOUND
People with chronic disease described solutions for work participation: accepting the disease, knowing limits, setting boundaries, disclosing to employers, managing energy, asking for help, and workplace adaptations.
They wanted personalized support from employers, colleagues and occupational health professionals.
Key findings
01Participants reported accepting the disease and focusing on what they could still do as solutions.
02Participants reported gaining insight into abilities and limitations, setting boundaries, disclosing the disease, managing energy, asking for help, making agreements, having autonomy and adapting the work environment as solutions.
03Participants wanted occupational health professionals to take a personal approach, listen to their needs, consider the whole picture and understand the complications caused by their disease.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used focus groups with 19 participants from patient panels, associations, social media and personal networks, and participants who responded may have experienced more difficulty participating in work. Groups were smaller than planned because of last-minute cancellations, which may have affected group dynamics. Most results came from employed participants, with only four unemployed participants, so perspectives of people not working are limited. The study asked about solutions already implemented, so it may not show how people who cannot find solutions experience work participation. The findings are from people with different chronic diseases in the Netherlands, so they may not transfer to other diagnoses, professions or health systems. Because the study was qualitative, it describes reported solutions and support needs, not tested effects on work participation.
Declared interests
The only funding and conflict information supplied is that the study was funded by Instituut Gak.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these reported solutions as evidence that any intervention improves work participation. The study asked participants what they had already used, so it describes perspectives, not tested outcomes.