Workplace barriers among people with rheumatic and chronic back pain: Results from the work experience survey for rheumatic conditions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Work Experience Survey for Rheumatic Conditions (WES-RC) is a prominent feature of an evidence-based intervention to prevent premature job loss among people with arthritis. The WES-RC is used to identify client perceived barriers related to work performance. The degree to which people with arthritis and rheumatic conditions report barriers on the WES-RC has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the barriers reported on the WES-RC. METHODS: Data from participants who completed the WES-RC in the Work It study trial were included (N = 143). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and the frequency with which barriers on the WES-RC were reported. Responses to the top three bothersome barriers to study participants were summed. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 50.3 years; 73% were female, and 66% white. All WES-RC items were checked as a barrier by at least two participants; less than 10 participants checked 34 items. Barriers in the ‘getting ready for work and traveling to and from, or for work’ domain, were frequently reported. The most bothersome barriers were ‘standing or being on feet too long’ and ‘prolonged sitting’. CONCLUSION: The WES-RC is a self-reported checklist that captures a wide breadth of work-related barriers that could be experienced by people with arthritis who are currently employed.

The Work Experience Survey – Rheumatic conditions (United Kingdom): Psychometric properties and identifying the workplace barriers of employed people with inflammatory arthritis receiving vocational rehabilitation

“…Workplace barriers experienced by RMD participants (n = 143) in the WORK-IT trial (Keysor et al, 2018) have also been reported (AlHeresh et al, 2023). Participants were predominantly diagnosed with osteoarthritis (43%), RA (23%), chronic back pain (13%), fibromyalgia (11%), and other RMDs.…”

“…It is a semi‐structured interview schedule which can be conducted anywhere, either in‐person or by telephone/videocall, by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and occupational health personnel (OHP). The WES‐RC includes demographic, health, and job‐related information, as well as listing 120 potential workplace difficulties (AlHeresh et al., 2023 ; Allaire & Keysor, 2009 ). The final section of the WES‐RC consists of jointly planning with the client an individualised job retention vocational rehabilitation (JRVR) programme.…”

“…The WES‐RC has been used to report the frequency of workplace barriers in RMDs (AlHeresh et al., 2023 ) and systemic sclerosis (Poole et al., 2016 ). Better understanding of the work‐related barriers experienced specifically by working people with IA can assist in future planning of work support services needed to help people with IA stay working.…”