AB1623 INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATISM AND WORK: WHAT DIFFICULTIES IN RELATION WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB?

Abstract

BackgroundDespite improvements in the management of inflammatory arthritis (IA), the disease still has a significant impact on work and the support for patients with professional difficulties remains insufficient. Occupational physicians and occupational health specialists are not all aware of the specific impact of IA on difficulties at work and sometimes think that all patients complaining of physical limitations are identical and require the same support.ObjectivesThe objective of the study is to better understand the difficulties at work, in particular difficulties related to the employment characteristics of patients with IA.Methods32 individual semi-directed interviews and 2 group interviews were conducted with patients with IA recruited in consultations or by patient associations. The participants were recruited according to a.purposive sampling with maximum variation. Inclusion criteria were: age 18 to 65 years, have IA, be professionally active, have difficulties or concerns at work due to the disease. The interviews.were conducted with an interview guide and were recorded and transcribed in full. The thematic analyses were conducted using an inductive approach.ResultsThe analysis of difficulties related to the characteristics of the employment of patients with IA are numerous: physical load of the workstation; speed required by the job; simultaneous tasks; multiple tasks and flexibility; workload; working hours and schedules; routine, scheduling, commuting, job awareness, responsibilities and moral demands; cognitive characteristics; conflict of values; skills and experience; interpersonal characteristics; lack of material resources, inappropriate premises; autonomy, environment and culture of the company; productivity demands and evaluations,job insecurity or security; perceived maladjustment; isolation; lack of recognition.The difficulties are not always specific to patients with IA but are clearly aggravated by the disease for a good number of them. The patients describe the specificities of their difficulties.ConclusionPatients discuss multiple characteristics of employment that can be a hardship or an advantage. They explain how the disease makes these characteristics difficult for them. These data will be useful to occupational health occupational health professionals and clinicians to help patients keep their jobs in good condition and develop appropriate services.These data will help to improve the training of occupational health occupational and to develop a questionnaire for the assessment of the work situation of patients with IA.REFERENCES:NIL.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsAnne-Christine Rat Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Lilly, Sanofi Genzyme, Abbvie, BMS, Galapagos, novartis, Isabelle Thaon: None declared, Deboreh Loyal: None declared.