1. Work-related support for employed and self-employed people with rheumatoid arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional online survey of patients.
- Author
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Bakker, N. F., van Weely, S. F. E., Boonen, A., Vliet Vlieland, T. P. M., and Knoop, J.
- Subjects
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RHEUMATOID arthritis , *SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES , *FREELANCERS , *MEDICAL personnel , *INTERNET surveys - 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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