Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To describe the prevalence of expected work limitations (EWL) prior to future retirement age in osteoarthritis consulters, and the associated health, sociodemographic and workplace factors.Design
Population-based prospective cohort study.Setting
General practices in Staffordshire, England.Participants
297 working adults aged 50-65, who had consulted primary care for osteoarthritis.Outcome
EWL was defined using a single question, "Do you think joint pain will limit your ability to work before you reach 69 years old?"Results
51 (17.2%) indicated that joint pain would not limit their ability to work until 69, 79 (26.6%) indicated EWL and 167 (56.2%) did not know if joint pain would limit work before 69. In bivariate analysis, physical function (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.96), depression (4.51; 1.81 to 11.3), cognitive symptom (3.84; 1.81 to 8.18), current smoker (2.75; 1.02 to 7.38), age (0.69; 0.58 to 0.82), physically demanding job (3.18; 1.50 to 6.72), no opportunities to retrain (3.01; 1.29 to 7.05) and work dissatisfaction (3.69; 1.43 to 9.49) were associated with EWL. The final multivariate model included physical function and age.Conclusions
Only one in five osteoarthritis consulters expected that joint pain would not limit their work participation before 69 years of age. Given the expectation for people to work until they are older, the results highlight the increasing need for clinicians to include work participation in their consultation and implement strategies to address work loss/limitation. Targeting pain-related functional limitation and effective communication with employers to manage workplace issues could reduce EWL.
SUBMITTER: Wilkie R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4158206 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wilkie Ross R Phillipson Chris C Hay Elaine M EM Pransky Glenn G
BMJ open 20140904 9
<h4>Objective</h4>To describe the prevalence of expected work limitations (EWL) prior to future retirement age in osteoarthritis consulters, and the associated health, sociodemographic and workplace factors.<h4>Design</h4>Population-based prospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>General practices in Staffordshire, England.<h4>Participants</h4>297 working adults aged 50-65, who had consulted primary care for osteoarthritis.<h4>Outcome</h4>EWL was defined using a single question, "Do you think joi ...[more]