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. 2024 Jun 21;115(3):e2024022.
doi: 10.23749/mdl.v115i3.16038.

Occupational Physicians' Management of Workers With Multiple Sclerosis in Italy: Results From a Survey

Bruna Maria Rondinone  1 , Giuliana Buresti  1 , Sergio Iavicoli  2 , Paolo Durando  3 , Mario Alberto Battaglia  4 , Guglielmo Dini  3 , Alfredo Montecucco  3 , Alborz Rahmani  5 , Nicoletta Debarbieri  6 , Paolo Bandiera  7 , Michela Ponzio  8 , Tommaso Manacorda  7 , Elena Pignattelli  8 , Matilde Inglese  9 , Benedetta Persechino  10
Affiliations

Occupational Physicians' Management of Workers With Multiple Sclerosis in Italy: Results From a Survey

Bruna Maria Rondinone et al. Med Lav. .

Abstract

Background: This study, conducted on a sample of Italian occupational physicians (OPs), aimed to gather data regarding professional activity and their needs in managing workers with multiple sclerosis.

Methods: A convenience sample of OPs recruited by e-mail invitation to the list of Italian Society of Occupational Medicine members was considered. A total of 220 OPs participated between July and October 2022. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed based on previous survey experiences. It investigated, among others, the characteristics of OP respondents, the evaluation of fitness for work issues, and the OP training and updating needs on multiple sclerosis and work.

Results: Ninety-one percent of OPs had to assess the fitness for work of workers with multiple sclerosis during their activity. Sixty-four percent experienced particular difficulties in issuing a fitness for work judgment. Regarding the level of knowledge on multiple sclerosis, 54% judged it sufficient. The "Assessment of fitness for work for the specific task" and the "Role of the OPs in identifying reasonable accommodations" were the most interesting training topics regarding MS management in work contexts chosen by the respondents.

Conclusions: The interest in the work inclusion and job retention of people with disability, particularly the aspects linked to the Identification and implementation of reasonable accommodations, will require integration with the occupational safety and health protection system and will undoubtedly impact the OP's activities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Degree of perceived complexity of different aspects for the assessment of fitness for work of WwMS. The scale ranged from not at all complex to extremely complex.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Degree of usefulness of the interaction with the different professionals for assessment of fitness for work of WwMS. The scale ranged from not at all useful to extremely useful.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Degree of interest in topics for training in dealing with MS and work contexts. The scale ranged from not at all interested to extremely interested.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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