Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study
Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character. Goals: We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations. Study: Between November 2017 a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Karger Publishers
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506702 |
| _version_ | 1828335623265583104 |
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| author | Emma Paulides Charlotte Daker Chris Frampton Richard B. Gearry Tim Eglinton Nanne K.H. de Boer Charles N. Bernstein Andrew M. McCombie |
| author_facet | Emma Paulides Charlotte Daker Chris Frampton Richard B. Gearry Tim Eglinton Nanne K.H. de Boer Charles N. Bernstein Andrew M. McCombie |
| author_sort | Emma Paulides |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character. Goals: We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations. Study: Between November 2017 and March 2018, IBD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. The survey assessed employment, the need for workplace accommodations and the difficulty arranging it, insurance, and disability using the item-reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index for self-report (IBD-DI-SR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Results: One hundred twenty-three patients were included (response rate 64%), 112 of whom reported that they experienced symptoms while working (60% female, 71% Crohn’s disease, mean age 41.9 years). Ninety-one percent needed at least 1 workplace accommodation when symptoms were most severe. Almost half of the patients who needed an accommodation had difficulty arranging it. The most needed accommodations were time to go to medical appointments (71%) and easy access to a suitable toilet (71%). Being female, having less effective medication, and being distressed were associated with the need for 2 or more accommodations, difficulty in arranging accommodations, and not asking for needed accommodation. Conclusions: Many IBD patients need accommodations at work while symptomatic in order to overcome workplace disability, which can be difficult to arrange. Improved resources are needed to inform employees and employers about the disease, the possibilities for workplace accommodations, and practical strategies to request them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:49:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-502176baeba34ea1b54e96480b9213c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-9403 2296-9365 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:49:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Karger Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-502176baeba34ea1b54e96480b9213c42022-12-22T02:28:27ZengKarger PublishersInflammatory Intestinal Diseases2296-94032296-93652020-03-011910.1159/000506702506702Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational StudyEmma PaulidesCharlotte DakerChris FramptonRichard B. GearryTim EglintonNanne K.H. de BoerCharles N. BernsteinAndrew M. McCombieBackground: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character. Goals: We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations. Study: Between November 2017 and March 2018, IBD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. The survey assessed employment, the need for workplace accommodations and the difficulty arranging it, insurance, and disability using the item-reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index for self-report (IBD-DI-SR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Results: One hundred twenty-three patients were included (response rate 64%), 112 of whom reported that they experienced symptoms while working (60% female, 71% Crohn’s disease, mean age 41.9 years). Ninety-one percent needed at least 1 workplace accommodation when symptoms were most severe. Almost half of the patients who needed an accommodation had difficulty arranging it. The most needed accommodations were time to go to medical appointments (71%) and easy access to a suitable toilet (71%). Being female, having less effective medication, and being distressed were associated with the need for 2 or more accommodations, difficulty in arranging accommodations, and not asking for needed accommodation. Conclusions: Many IBD patients need accommodations at work while symptomatic in order to overcome workplace disability, which can be difficult to arrange. Improved resources are needed to inform employees and employers about the disease, the possibilities for workplace accommodations, and practical strategies to request them.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506702inflammatory bowel diseasecrohn’s diseaseulcerative colitisemploymentworkplace disability |
| spellingShingle | Emma Paulides Charlotte Daker Chris Frampton Richard B. Gearry Tim Eglinton Nanne K.H. de Boer Charles N. Bernstein Andrew M. McCombie Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases inflammatory bowel disease crohn’s disease ulcerative colitis employment workplace disability |
| title | Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study |
| title_full | Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study |
| title_short | Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study |
| title_sort | overcoming workplace disability in ibd patients an observational study |
| topic | inflammatory bowel disease crohn’s disease ulcerative colitis employment workplace disability |
| url | https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506702 |
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