Catherine Le Berre1, Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet2, Anne Buisson3, Alain Olympie3, Marie-Hélène Ravel3, Christina Bienenfeld4, Florent Gonzalez5. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France; Inserm U954 and Department of Gastroenterology, Nancy University Hospital, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. 2. Inserm U954 and Department of Gastroenterology, Nancy University Hospital, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. Electronic address: peyrinbiroulet@gmail.com. 3. AFA, Paris, France. 4. IFOP, Paris, France. 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Grand-Sud Polyclinic, Nîmes, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect working-age patients. Data was lacking concerning the impact on working life. AIMS: The French IBD patient association conducted a nationwide survey to assess the burden of IBD at work. METHODS: An online survey was performed in 2016, targeting IBD patients working or having worked previously. The results were compared to those observed in the general population. RESULTS: Data from 1410 IBD patients were analyzed (62% Crohn's disease, 35% ulcerative colitis). Four-fifth of respondents were actively employed. Half of them stated that working with IBD was a problem. Compared to the general population, IBD employees had higher rates of permanent contracts, public employment but also of part-time contracts, and highly graduated patients were less likely to reach high qualified jobs. Among the disabling symptoms at work, fatigue was the most frequent (41%) followed by diarrhea (25%) and fecal incontinence (18%). Despite these difficulties, 76% were satisfied with their job. Most patients shared their IBD diagnosis with their colleagues, but 25% of them regretted it. CONCLUSION: IBD has a strong negative impact on working life. While work satisfaction remains high, IBD affects career plans, highlighting the need for supporting measures to improve patients' work experience.
BACKGROUND:Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect working-age patients. Data was lacking concerning the impact on working life. AIMS: The French IBDpatient association conducted a nationwide survey to assess the burden of IBD at work. METHODS: An online survey was performed in 2016, targeting IBDpatients working or having worked previously. The results were compared to those observed in the general population. RESULTS: Data from 1410 IBDpatients were analyzed (62% Crohn's disease, 35% ulcerative colitis). Four-fifth of respondents were actively employed. Half of them stated that working with IBD was a problem. Compared to the general population, IBD employees had higher rates of permanent contracts, public employment but also of part-time contracts, and highly graduated patients were less likely to reach high qualified jobs. Among the disabling symptoms at work, fatigue was the most frequent (41%) followed by diarrhea (25%) and fecal incontinence (18%). Despite these difficulties, 76% were satisfied with their job. Most patients shared their IBD diagnosis with their colleagues, but 25% of them regretted it. CONCLUSION:IBD has a strong negative impact on working life. While work satisfaction remains high, IBD affects career plans, highlighting the need for supporting measures to improve patients' work experience.
Authors: Sara van Gennep; Nanne K H de Boer; Marieke E Gielen; Svend T Rietdijk; Krisztina B Gecse; Cyriel Y Ponsioen; Marjolijn Duijvestein; Geert R D'Haens; Mark Löwenberg; Angela G E M de Boer Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2020-10-16 Impact factor: 3.199