What Persons with Chronic Health Conditions Need to Maintain or Return to Work—Results of an Online-Survey in Seven European Countries

Abstract

Chronic health conditions represent the major share of the disease burden in Europe and have a significant impact on work. This study aims to: (1) identify factors that have a negative or positive impact on the work lives of persons with chronic health conditions; (2) explore the needs of these persons to maintain a job or return to work and (3) compare these results with respect to these persons’ occupational status. An online survey was performed in seven European countries. Open-ended survey questions were analyzed using qualitative methods. In total, 487 participants with six chronic health conditions participated. The majority of participants named work-related aspects (such as career development, stress at the workplace, work structure and schedule as well as workload), support of others and attitudes of others as being the factors positively and negatively impact their work lives the most. Our study shed light on the importance of changing the attitudes of supervisors and co-workers to counteract stigmatization of persons with chronic health conditions in the workplace. In conclusion, this study provides a basis for developing new strategies of integration and reintegration at work for persons with chronic health conditions in European countries.

Gender perspective in the analysis of the relationship between health and work cessation, and how to deal with it

“…A review of the existing literature on employment and the health status has highlighted that having a long-term chronic disease constitutes a risk factor for not entering the workforce, or for becoming unemployed or non-employed. The results of the PATHWAYS project revealed that the factors having a negative impact for the PwCDs' occupational situation are: workplace, work structure and schedule, as well as workload [44]. A community-based study conducted in the UK provided evidence for longterm diseases and job loss, especially among those who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders and mental illnesses [45].…”

“…The results of the PATHWAYS project showed that a modification of work-related aspects, such as the adaptation of working hours, working tasks and workload, could improve the situation of PwCDs on the labor market [47]. Those work-related aspects correspond to the most frequent needs declared by PwCDs [44]. In turn, national and European stakeholders emphasize the need to focus on the capacity of PwCDs rather than on their inability, as well as to develop a more integrated system of the integration and reintegration of people with NCDs [45].…”

“…The category of working dissonance was indicated as the most disturbing factor, according to people with mental disorders. This category consists in the fact that people distance themselves from colleagues, which is likely to lead to social isolation [44]. To reduce absenteeism due to mental health problems, factors influencing effectiveness strategies were identified in the PATHWAYS project.…”

“…As can be assumed based on the results of the PATHWAYS project, the possibility of having flexible working conditions, one of the most requested facilitators to stay at work/remain at work/enter workforce, would probably increase the number of active employees with chronic conditions among the workforce. This will increase the importance of fighting stigmatization, and changing the attitudes of managers and colleagues towards PwCDs [44]. These changes could become preventive measures of the employees' withdrawal from the labor market, especially in terms of early retirement decisions and the increase in long-term health problems.…”

Employment and Chronic Diseases: Suggested Actions for The Implementation of Inclusive Policies for The Participation of People with Chronic Diseases in the Labour Market

“…Faced with this evidence, the European PATHWAYS project (www.path-ways.eu), which identified the impact of chronic diseases on European socio-medical systems, has shown how the existing EU and national level legislations regarding inclusive work are not specifically addressed to people with chronic diseases [9][10][11]. Conversely, these legislations apply to specific population groups, such as people with disabilities, long-term unemployed and "fragile" groups, but do not necessarily answer the needs of people affected with one or more chronic diseases [12].…”