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. 2024 Aug;44(8):1553-1565.
doi: 10.1007/s00296-024-05643-z. Epub 2024 Jun 20.

Work-related support for employed and self-employed people with rheumatoid arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional online survey of patients

N F Bakker  1 , S F E van Weely  2   3 , A Boonen  4   5 , T P M Vliet Vlieland  2 , J Knoop  6
Affiliations

Work-related support for employed and self-employed people with rheumatoid arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional online survey of patients

N F Bakker et al. Rheumatol Int. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the provision of work-related support for (self-)employed people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) by healthcare providers (HCPs) or employers.

Objective: This study aims to explore the experiences of (self-)employed people with RA or axSpA regarding work-related support from HCPs and employers in the Netherlands.

Methods: This cross-sectional study concerned an online survey for (self-)employed people, aged ≥ 16 years and diagnosed with RA or axSpA. The survey focused on experiences with HCPs and employers' work-related support and included questions on sociodemographic factors, health and work characteristics and work-related problems.

Results: The survey was completed by 884 participants, 56% with RA and 44% with axSpA, of whom 65% were employed, 8% self-employed and 27% not employed. In total, 95% (589/617) of (self-)employed participants reported work-related problems. Sixty-five percent of employed and 56% of self-employed participants had discussed these work-related problems with rheumatologists and/or other HCPs. Whereas 69% of employees with their employer. Both employed and self-employed participants reported that work-related advices or actions were more often provided by other HCPs (53%) than rheumatologists (29%). Fifty-six percent of employees reported this work-related support by the employer.

Conclusion: This survey among (self-)employed people with RA or axSpA found that the majority reported work-related problems, but only half of them received any work-related support for these problems. Discussion of work-related problems with HCPs was more often reported by employed than self-employed participants. More attention from especially rheumatologists and other HCPs is important to identify and address work-related problems promptly.

Keywords: Axial spondyloarthritis; Cross-sectional study; Rheumatoid arthritis; Surveys and questionnaires; Vocational rehabilitation; Work.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.F. Bakker, S.F.E. van Weely, T.P.M. Vliet Vlieland and J. Knoop declare that they have no conflict of interest. A. Boonen received research grants from Abbvie and Lilly, and honoraria for lectures or consultation from Pfizer, Novartis, UCB, Abbvie and Galapagos; all to her department.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the participants in the survey
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Overlap in contacts within rheumatologists (rheu), other HCPs and employers (emp) for discussing work-related problems with (self-)employed participants with RA or axSpA
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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