Work Barriers Experienced and Job Accommodations Used by Persons with Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases

Abstract

Many people with arthritis become work disabled, but little is known about (a) the types of work barriers they experience and (b) their use of job accommodations. Our objectives were to describe work barriers and use of accommodations and to examine factors associated with accommodation use in persons with arthritis at risk for work disability. Barrier assessment was conducted using the Work Experience Survey. Factors associated with accommodation use were analyzed by logistic regression. The overwhelming majority of the 121 participants (98%) reported having one or more barriers, and 68% reported 10 or more barriers; 38% used an accommodation. Greater functional limitations and self-efficacy for accommodation request were each associated with accommodation use. Even though these employed persons with arthritis faced multiple barriers at work, only a small number used any form of job accommodation.

Job Accommodations Availability and Utilization Among People With Lupus: An Examination of Workplace Activity Limitations and Work Context Factors

“…These results on the use of job accommodations by people with lupus are comparable to the findings of some, but not all, previous studies on patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including lupus (23,27,36). Most notably, in 1 study of individuals with musculoskeletal conditions, only 18% of respondents reported that they used job accommodations (23).…”

“…The relationship between workplace activity limitations and job accommodations has been described in studies of individuals with osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis (36). Other studies using more general measures of functional limitations (e.g., the Health Assessment Questionnaire) also have found that greater functional limitations in patients with rheumatic diseases are associated with greater use of job accommodations (27). Education level also was significantly associated with the use of job accommodations.…”

“…Most notably, in 1 study of individuals with musculoskeletal conditions, only 18% of respondents reported that they used job accommodations (23). Similarly, another study found that only 38% of people with chronic autoimmune rheumatic conditions had used 1 or more job accommodations, even though 98% of that population reported facing at least 1 work barrier that was related to their rheumatic condition (27). In contrast, a study of individuals with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis found that 78% of participants reported using job accommodations (36).…”

“…Participants were asked about 13 job accommodations (a combination of those commonly provided to employees in Canadian organizations and others found in the literature) (23,26,27,(35)(36)(37). Participants were asked whether each accommodation was needed (yes/no).…”

“…Some research among individuals with rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus), has found that individuals who used job accommodations were more likely to remain employed (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23); had better performance evaluations, attendance, productivity, and safety records; and had lower turnover rates (24)(25)(26). However, studies also suggest that many individuals do not take advantage of job accommodations, despite having musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis (23,26,27).…”