Contributions
Abstract: 174
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Maintaining paid work is a key issue for people with MS (PwMS). Different factors may influence job retention and little is currently known about the psychological factors which are linked to job retention. Thus gaining an insight into the role of such factors should inform potential psychological interventions to help PwMS stay in paid work.
Methods: A three year longitudinal study used validated self-completed measures of psychological factors, impact of MS, quality of life, fatigue and work instability at four time points. The scales included reflected key themes identified from qualitative focus group work conducted for this study. 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. The attrition rate was not cumulative, e.g. some who did not returned their month 8 questionnaires did so at month 18.
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, while 57% were in full-time employment. The unadjusted odds ratio for being in paid work at month 28 when patients report high self-efficacy at baseline was 5.9 (p=0.013), while having probable depression at baseline reduced the odds of being in paid work by 5.9. Initial fatigue levels, good cognition, employment type and gender did not show any significant associations with maintaining paid work over the period of the study.
Conclusions: Evidence has emerged from this longitudinal study that psychological factors such as self-efficacy and depression are linked to risk of job loss. As such, screening for these in a clinical setting, with appropriate interventions to increase self efficacy and reduce depression where necessary, could help to aid job retention.
Disclosure: This study was funded by the MS Society in the UK, Grant Ref 974/12
Wicks CR: nothing to disclose
Stroud A: nothing to disclose
Tennant A: nothing to disclose
Ford HL: nothing to disclose
Abstract: 174
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Maintaining paid work is a key issue for people with MS (PwMS). Different factors may influence job retention and little is currently known about the psychological factors which are linked to job retention. Thus gaining an insight into the role of such factors should inform potential psychological interventions to help PwMS stay in paid work.
Methods: A three year longitudinal study used validated self-completed measures of psychological factors, impact of MS, quality of life, fatigue and work instability at four time points. The scales included reflected key themes identified from qualitative focus group work conducted for this study. 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. The attrition rate was not cumulative, e.g. some who did not returned their month 8 questionnaires did so at month 18.
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, while 57% were in full-time employment. The unadjusted odds ratio for being in paid work at month 28 when patients report high self-efficacy at baseline was 5.9 (p=0.013), while having probable depression at baseline reduced the odds of being in paid work by 5.9. Initial fatigue levels, good cognition, employment type and gender did not show any significant associations with maintaining paid work over the period of the study.
Conclusions: Evidence has emerged from this longitudinal study that psychological factors such as self-efficacy and depression are linked to risk of job loss. As such, screening for these in a clinical setting, with appropriate interventions to increase self efficacy and reduce depression where necessary, could help to aid job retention.
Disclosure: This study was funded by the MS Society in the UK, Grant Ref 974/12
Wicks CR: nothing to disclose
Stroud A: nothing to disclose
Tennant A: nothing to disclose
Ford HL: nothing to disclose