Contributions
Abstract: P909
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Maintaining paid work is a key issue for people with MS (PwMS). The concept of Work Instability - the mismatch between a person"s current abilities and the demands of their job, has the potential to identify those where intervention may facilitate job retention. A scale for this (MS-WIS) was recently introduced, but evidence needs to be obtained for its predictive validity before confidence can be placed in its role as a screening instrument for risk of job loss [1].
Methods: A three year longitudinal study used validated self-completed measures, including the MS-WIS as well as psychological factors, impact of MS, quality of life and fatigue assessed PwMS at four time points. The questionnaire was administered at baseline, 8, 18 and 28 months.
Results: 208 employed PwMS were entered into the study at baseline, and 177 completed the final time point, month 28. Mean age was 40.7 years (SD 9.2; range 20-60) with disease duration of 7.0 years (SD5.7; range 0-27). 74.5% were female and the majority (89.9%) were of the relapsing remitting type. This was a highly qualified working group with 62.9% achieving a diploma, degree or professional qualification.
Of those still participating at the final time point, over one-in-ten (11.4% - 95% CI 6.9-15.9) were no longer in paid work. Of all the scales used in the study, the highest proportion of variance explained (0.157) with respect to the loss of paid work came from the MS-WIS. The unadjusted odds ratio for being in paid work at month 28 when patients reported high Work Instability risk at baseline was 0.118 (p=0.001). Thus the odds of being in paid work 28 months after recruitment into the study were reduced by 8.5 times where high risk was initially reported.
Conclusions: Maintaining paid work is a key objective for those living with MS. The MS-WIS was developed to help screen for the risk of job loss, and the current study provides initial evidence that is has strong predictive validity over the short term (i.e. < 3 years). Thus the scale could be used routinely to monitor working PwMS to inform clinical management and appropriate referral to facilitate job retention.
References:
1. McFadden E, Horton MC, Ford HL, Gilworth G, McFadden M, Tennant A. Screening for the risk of job loss in multiple sclerosis: development of an MS-specific Work Instability Scale (MS-WIS). Mult Scler. 2012; 18:862-870.
Disclosure:
This study was funded by the MS Society in the UK, Grant Ref 974/12
Wicks C.R.: nothing to disclose
Tennant A.: nothing to disclose
Stroud A.: nothing to disclose
Ford H.L.: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P909
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Maintaining paid work is a key issue for people with MS (PwMS). The concept of Work Instability - the mismatch between a person"s current abilities and the demands of their job, has the potential to identify those where intervention may facilitate job retention. A scale for this (MS-WIS) was recently introduced, but evidence needs to be obtained for its predictive validity before confidence can be placed in its role as a screening instrument for risk of job loss [1].
Methods: A three year longitudinal study used validated self-completed measures, including the MS-WIS as well as psychological factors, impact of MS, quality of life and fatigue assessed PwMS at four time points. The questionnaire was administered at baseline, 8, 18 and 28 months.
Results: 208 employed PwMS were entered into the study at baseline, and 177 completed the final time point, month 28. Mean age was 40.7 years (SD 9.2; range 20-60) with disease duration of 7.0 years (SD5.7; range 0-27). 74.5% were female and the majority (89.9%) were of the relapsing remitting type. This was a highly qualified working group with 62.9% achieving a diploma, degree or professional qualification.
Of those still participating at the final time point, over one-in-ten (11.4% - 95% CI 6.9-15.9) were no longer in paid work. Of all the scales used in the study, the highest proportion of variance explained (0.157) with respect to the loss of paid work came from the MS-WIS. The unadjusted odds ratio for being in paid work at month 28 when patients reported high Work Instability risk at baseline was 0.118 (p=0.001). Thus the odds of being in paid work 28 months after recruitment into the study were reduced by 8.5 times where high risk was initially reported.
Conclusions: Maintaining paid work is a key objective for those living with MS. The MS-WIS was developed to help screen for the risk of job loss, and the current study provides initial evidence that is has strong predictive validity over the short term (i.e. < 3 years). Thus the scale could be used routinely to monitor working PwMS to inform clinical management and appropriate referral to facilitate job retention.
References:
1. McFadden E, Horton MC, Ford HL, Gilworth G, McFadden M, Tennant A. Screening for the risk of job loss in multiple sclerosis: development of an MS-specific Work Instability Scale (MS-WIS). Mult Scler. 2012; 18:862-870.
Disclosure:
This study was funded by the MS Society in the UK, Grant Ref 974/12
Wicks C.R.: nothing to disclose
Tennant A.: nothing to disclose
Stroud A.: nothing to disclose
Ford H.L.: nothing to disclose