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  • What We've Learned
Arthritis and Employment: Making it Work! Phase I
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Why did we do this research?

People with inflammatory arthritis commonly have to stop working because of the limitations imposed by their disease. This has a tremendous impact on their quality of life, and financially for themselves, their families and society. Arthritis and musculoskeletal problems are the most common reason why people have to stop working in Canada, with an estimated cost of $13.6 billion per year (Economic Burden of Illness in Canada). This research takes action to deal with this important problem. We have developed and pilot tested a program aimed at preventing work disability and at helping people with arthritis deal with the difficulties they encounter at work. This project builds on previous research where we surveyed people with rheumatoid arthritis across BC to identify the risk factors for work disability. To date, most research in the field of work disability in arthritis has been descriptive, documenting the extent of the problem and helping to understand what influences the risk of work disability. By creating an intervention aimed at preventing work loss from inflammatory arthritis, this research takes action to deal with an important and costly problem that is not otherwise adequately addressed. The potential impact for this intervention is tremendous given the magnitude of the problem.

What did we find?

All participants made changes at their workplace in order to successfully keep working. Participants said the most important things that they learned from the program were realizing others shared similar experiences, understanding how to better manage their work with arthritis, and learning about government and non-government resources and services that can help them make changes at their job (job accommodations). Participants met with an occupational therapist for an ergonomic assessment of their work and with a vocational rehabilitation counsellor for advice on requesting job accommodations. As a result of the program, 75% requested a job accommodation (the remainder stated they did not need any) and of these, 71% had been implemented within one year of the program. When comparing before and after the program, there were improvements in fatigue at work, reduction in limitations at work, increase in work productivity, and less concern about becoming work disabled in the future. The effectiveness of the program at preventing work disability and improving at work productivity is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial.

The Research Team

Principal Investigator

  • Diane Lacaille, MD, MHSc, FRCPC Mary Pack Chair in Arthritis Research Senior Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Co-investigators

  • John Esdaile MD, MPH, FRCPC Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia
  • Catherine Backman PhD, OT, FCAOT Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada Professor and Head, Department of Occupational Science, University of British Columbia
  • Monique Gignac, PhD Research Scientist, University Health Network, University of Toronto Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Adjunct Scientist, Institute for Work and Health, Toronto Co-Scientific Director, Canadian Arthritis Network
  • Daniel Pratt, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Educational Studies, University of British Columbia

Research Staff

  • Margaret A White, Research Associate Pam A Rogers, MA, Research Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada

Collaborators

  • Matt Liang MD, MPH Harold Robinson Chair in Rehabilitation Sciences Professor, Harvard School of Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health
  • Andrew Chalmers, MD, FRCPC Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada Professor, University of British Columbia
  • Janet Finlayson, MA Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor, GF Strong and Mary Pack Arthritis Centre

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