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- Hjalmarsson Österholm, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Factors of importance for maintaining work as perceived by med with arthritis
- 2012
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Employment rates are significantly lower among individuals with arthritis compared to a generalpopulation. During the last decade new biological medications have revolutionized the treatment for many individuals witharthritis (1), reducing the disease activity and symptoms in a positive way, but also causing major direct costs since thenew medications are very expensive (2). Even though the effect is good some individuals still report disability like pain,fatigue (3) and work disability (4). This indicates that even though biological medicines generate a positive remission ofthe disease, disability such as work disability can still be present and needs to be evaluated. Previous research aboutindividuals with arthritis and their ability to work has mainly had a quantitative design focusing on what affects work andfacilitates the ability to work for women. There is, however, limited research about how men with arthritis perceive theirability to maintain working.Objectives: The aim of this study was thus to explore how men with arthritis perceive their ability to maintain working.Methods: Nine employed men with arthritis were purposively sampled. Interviews were performed and were inspired bythe central concepts of the Model of Human Occupation. The Empirical Phenomenological Psychological method wasmodified and used to analyze and interpret collected data.Results: The findings consist of six themes and fifteen sub-themes. The results showed that men with arthritis perceiveda desire to work, adjusted their activity pattern, were aware of their own capabilities, had good work conditions, hadenvironmental support and used effective medication to maintain their ability to work.Conclusions: This study has provided an understanding of how men with arthritis maintain their ability towork. In conclusion, to treat the symptoms of arthritis, in the more traditional way that for examplehand dysfunction and pain are treated, may prevent sick-leave but as found in the presentstudy the ability to work is complex and new strategies to support ability to work need to bedeveloped in the occupational aspects of rheumatology care.
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