Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient
Journal Title: Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease associated with a decline in functional status. Previous studies have shown that RA patients have high rates of early retirement and work absenteeism and are more likely to be unemployed or with reduced earning potential. Objective: Characterize work disability and identify factors associated with work incapacity in rheumatoid arthritis patients from a Rheumatology clinic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 116 patients with RA. Sociodemographic, clinical and occupational variables were collected and the validated Portuguese version of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-General Health (WPAI-GH) was applied to all patients currently employed. The following parameters were obtained: absenteeism, presenteeism, overall work impairment and global activity impairment. Results: Correlation coefficients between DAS28 and WPAI-GH scores were moderate-good. A high correlation coefficient was obtained between HAQ and global activity impairment (0.647). Conclusions: These findings support the usability of this version of WPAI-GH in a rheumatoid arthritis population and the value of associating specific work incapacity tools to clinical and functional assessment. There is a need for introduction of workplace productivity assessment in routine evaluation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Authors and Affiliations
João Amaro, Márcio Oliveira, Paulo Pinho, Francisca Aguiar, Pedro Madureira, Isabel Fidalgo, Iva Brito
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP581033
- DOI 10.4172/2329-6879.1000280
- Views 118
- Downloads 0
Call Centre-associated Occupational Hearing Loss in Africa: A Clarion Call Falling on Deaf Ears?
Objectives: The call centre industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Africa, and in the world employing millions of call operators. These employees are prone to various occupational hazards which cannot be ignor...
Selected Aspects of Nurses' Burnout Compared to Other Employees of Social Welfare Homes
Introduction: The staff of social welfare home is exposed to the phenomenon of occupational burnout due to the specificity and characteristics of social welfare homes functioning. In social welfare homes there are people...
Noise Induced Work Places and Noise Related Occupational Risks
Noise is broadly defined as unwanted sound that generally prevents people from performing at maximum ability and efficiency. Following air and water pollution, noise pollution is the third most critical environmental sub...
Experiences of Frontline Nursing Staff on Workplace Safety and Occupational Health Hazards in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Ghana
Background: Psychiatric hospitals need safe working environments to promote productivity at the workplace. Even though occupational health and safety is not completely new to the corporate society, its scope is largely l...
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease associated with a decline in functional status. Previous studies have shown that RA patients have high rates of early retirement and wor...