Contributions
Abstract: P847
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Background: Provided the importance of coping and advantageous adjustments to multiple sclerosis (MS) for health and psychological wellbeing, we hypothesized that coping could have an independent effect on long-term employment status.
The aim was to investigate the influence of coping styles, clinical and demographic factors on employment status during a 13 years follow-up in patients with newly diagnosed MS.
Method: All patients (n=108) recently diagnosed with MS were invited to participate in the long-term follow-up study in 2002. A total of 93 patients agreed to participate of whom 52 were unemployed at time of inclusion in 2002. Forty-one were part or full time employed and followed up with regard to employment status until 2015. At baseline, the study included disability scoring (EDSS), fatigue (FSS), depression (BDI), time delay from onset to diagnosis and questionnaire assessing coping (the COPE scale). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that were independently associated with being unemployed at baseline, and cox regression analysis were used to identify factors at baseline that were independently associated with time to unemployment during follow up.
Results: A total of 41 (44%) were employed at baseline, and after 13 years, 22 (23%) patients were still part- or full time employed. Older age at diagnosis, female gender and depression were associated with patients being unemployed at baseline, and female gender, long time delay from onset to diagnosis and denial as avoidant coping strategy at baseline predicted shorter time to unemployment.
Conclusions: Avoidant coping style, female gender and long time delay of diagnosis were associated with shorter time to unemployment. In order to improve long-term employment in MS, these factors should be considered by health professionals and at the patient`s work place.
Disclosure: Nina Grytten: nothing to disclose
Anne Britt Rundhovde Skår: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis Norway, Biogen Idec and Genzyme and received speaker honoraria from Genzyme, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Teva.
Jan Aarseth: nothing to disclose
Jurg Assmus: nothing to disclose
Elisabeth Farbu:
Honoraria for:Ad boards: Novartis, Biogen, GenzymeLectures: Novartis, Genzyme, Biogen, TevaUnrestricted grant: Novartis
Kristin Lode: nothing to disclose
Harald Nyland: nothing to disclose
Tori Smedal: nothing to disclose
Kjell-Morten Myhr: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis Norway, Biogen Idec, Genzyme and Roche; received speaker honoraria from Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Teva; and received unrestricted research support from Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Biogen Idec, and the Norwegian MS Society.
Abstract: P847
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Epidemiology
Background: Provided the importance of coping and advantageous adjustments to multiple sclerosis (MS) for health and psychological wellbeing, we hypothesized that coping could have an independent effect on long-term employment status.
The aim was to investigate the influence of coping styles, clinical and demographic factors on employment status during a 13 years follow-up in patients with newly diagnosed MS.
Method: All patients (n=108) recently diagnosed with MS were invited to participate in the long-term follow-up study in 2002. A total of 93 patients agreed to participate of whom 52 were unemployed at time of inclusion in 2002. Forty-one were part or full time employed and followed up with regard to employment status until 2015. At baseline, the study included disability scoring (EDSS), fatigue (FSS), depression (BDI), time delay from onset to diagnosis and questionnaire assessing coping (the COPE scale). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that were independently associated with being unemployed at baseline, and cox regression analysis were used to identify factors at baseline that were independently associated with time to unemployment during follow up.
Results: A total of 41 (44%) were employed at baseline, and after 13 years, 22 (23%) patients were still part- or full time employed. Older age at diagnosis, female gender and depression were associated with patients being unemployed at baseline, and female gender, long time delay from onset to diagnosis and denial as avoidant coping strategy at baseline predicted shorter time to unemployment.
Conclusions: Avoidant coping style, female gender and long time delay of diagnosis were associated with shorter time to unemployment. In order to improve long-term employment in MS, these factors should be considered by health professionals and at the patient`s work place.
Disclosure: Nina Grytten: nothing to disclose
Anne Britt Rundhovde Skår: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis Norway, Biogen Idec and Genzyme and received speaker honoraria from Genzyme, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Teva.
Jan Aarseth: nothing to disclose
Jurg Assmus: nothing to disclose
Elisabeth Farbu:
Honoraria for:Ad boards: Novartis, Biogen, GenzymeLectures: Novartis, Genzyme, Biogen, TevaUnrestricted grant: Novartis
Kristin Lode: nothing to disclose
Harald Nyland: nothing to disclose
Tori Smedal: nothing to disclose
Kjell-Morten Myhr: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis Norway, Biogen Idec, Genzyme and Roche; received speaker honoraria from Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Teva; and received unrestricted research support from Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Biogen Idec, and the Norwegian MS Society.