Ali M Al Dhanhani1, Monique A M Gignac2, Dorcas E Beaton3, Jiandong Su1, Paul R Fortin2. 1. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Centre for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Division de Rhumatologie, Département de Médicine and Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. 2. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Centre for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Division de Rhumatologie, Département de Médicine and Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Centre for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Division de Rhumatologie, Département de Médicine and Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Poli 3. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Centre for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Division de Rhumatologie, Département de Médicine and Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Institute for Work and Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Centre for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Division de Rhumatologie, Département de Médicine and Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the extent of workplace activity limitations among persons with lupus and to identify factors associated with activity limitations among those employed. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a mailed survey and clinical data of persons with lupus who attended a large lupus outpatient clinic. Data were collected on demographics, health, work factors and psychosocial measures. The workplace activity limitations scale (WALS) was used to measure difficulty related to different activities at work. Multivariable analysis examined the association of health, work context, psychosocial and demographic variables with workplace activity limitations. RESULTS: We received 362 responses from 604 (60%) mailed surveys. Among those not employed, 52% reported not working because of lupus. A range of physical and mental tasks were reported as difficult. Each of the physical, cognitive and energy work activities was cited as difficult by more than one-third of participants. Among employed participants, 40% had medium to high WALS difficulty scores. In the multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with workplace activity limitations were older age, greater disease activity, fatigue, poorer health status measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, lower job control, greater job strain and working more than 40 h/week. CONCLUSION: People with lupus experience limitations and difficulty at work. Determinants of workplace activity limitations are mainly those related to workplace and health factors.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the extent of workplace activity limitations among persons with lupus and to identify factors associated with activity limitations among those employed. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a mailed survey and clinical data of persons with lupus who attended a large lupus outpatient clinic. Data were collected on demographics, health, work factors and psychosocial measures. The workplace activity limitations scale (WALS) was used to measure difficulty related to different activities at work. Multivariable analysis examined the association of health, work context, psychosocial and demographic variables with workplace activity limitations. RESULTS: We received 362 responses from 604 (60%) mailed surveys. Among those not employed, 52% reported not working because of lupus. A range of physical and mental tasks were reported as difficult. Each of the physical, cognitive and energy work activities was cited as difficult by more than one-third of participants. Among employed participants, 40% had medium to high WALS difficulty scores. In the multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with workplace activity limitations were older age, greater disease activity, fatigue, poorer health status measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, lower job control, greater job strain and working more than 40 h/week. CONCLUSION:People with lupus experience limitations and difficulty at work. Determinants of workplace activity limitations are mainly those related to workplace and health factors.