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CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2022; 80(09): 929-934
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1755344
Original Article

Tracking the impact of multiple sclerosis on employment status: the development of a questionnaire

Avaliação do impacto da esclerose múltipla na situação laboral: desenvolvimento de um questionário
Evangelina Valeria Cores 
1   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2   Hospital Interzonal de Agudos “Eva Perón”, Laboratorio de Deterioro Cognitivo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3   Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
Judith Steinberg 
4   Hospital Británico, Demyelinating Diseases Area, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
Carolina Cuesta 
1   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2   Hospital Interzonal de Agudos “Eva Perón”, Laboratorio de Deterioro Cognitivo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3   Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
María Celeste Curbelo 
4   Hospital Británico, Demyelinating Diseases Area, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
Mabel Alicia Osorio 
1   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2   Hospital Interzonal de Agudos “Eva Perón”, Laboratorio de Deterioro Cognitivo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
Johana Julia Bauer 
5   Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
,
Daniel Gustavo Politis 
1   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2   Hospital Interzonal de Agudos “Eva Perón”, Laboratorio de Deterioro Cognitivo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3   Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
› Author Affiliations Funding Statement The present study was funded by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and the Research Institute of the School of Psychology at Universidad de Buenos Aires.
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Abstract

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a negative effect on employment status.

Objective To present the preliminary results of a special questionnaire designed to collect employment information on patients with MS.

Methods The questionnaire on the impact of MS on employment status was completed by 63 patients. Fatigue, cognition, and depression were also evaluated, and 33 healthy participants were recruited as a control group.

Results Regarding the patients' employment status, we found rates of 31.7% of full-time employment, 28.6% of part-time employment, 7.9% of unemployment due to MS, 4.8% of housewives, 1.6% retirement due to age, 15.9% of retirement due to disability, 7.9% of medical leave due to MS, and 1.6% of medical leave for other reasons. The rate of unemployment among the patients was significantly higher compared with that of the control group. Out of 38 working patients, 31% had been absent from work for the previous 3 months due to MS, and 50% had to make changes in their work to remain employed. Out of the 19 unemployed patients, 78% said that walking difficulties were the cause of unemployment, while 52% thought cognitive impairment was the cause.

Conclusions The questionnaire provides a record of the employment status of patients with MS and describes the impact on work from their point of view.

Resumo

Antecedentes A esclerose múltipla (EM) tem um efeito negativo na situação laboral.

Objetivo Apresentar os resultados preliminares de um questionário elaborado para coletar informações sobre a situação laboral de pacientes com EM.

Métodos O questionário sobre o impacto da EM na situação laboral foi preenchido por 63 pacientes. Fadiga, cognição e depressão também foram avaliadas, e 33 pacientes saudáveis foram incluídos como grupo controle.

Resultados Quanto à situação laboral dos pacientes, foram encontradas taxas de 31,7% de emprego em tempo integral, 28,6% de emprego em meio período, 7,9% de desemprego por EM, 4,8% de donas de casa, 1,6% aposentadoria por idade, 15,9% de aposentadoria por invalidez, 7,9% por licença médica por EM, e 1,6% de licença médica por outros motivos. A taxa de desemprego entre os pacientes foi significativamente mais alta em comparação com a do grupo controle. Dos 38 pacientes empregados, 31% tiveram que se afastar do trabalho nos 3 meses anteriores por causa da EM, e 50% tiveram que fazer mudanças em seu trabalho para permanecer empregado. Dos 19 pacientes desempregados, 78% mencionaram que as dificuldades de locomoção foram a causa do desemprego, enquanto 52% reportaram que a deterioração cognitiva foi a causa.

Conclusões Este questionário fornece um registro da situação laboral dos pacientes com EM e descreve o seu impacto no emprego do ponto de vista deles.

Keywords

Surveys and Questionnaires - Unemployment - Work - Multiple Sclerosis - Disability Evaluation

Palavras-chave

Pesquisas e Questionários - Desemprego - Trabalho - Esclerose Múltipla - Avaliação de Incapacidade

Authors' Contributions

EVC: conceptualization and writing of the original draft; JS, CC: conceptualization; MCC, MO: formal analysis and methodology; JJB: funding acquisition and resources; DGP: funding acquisition, project administration, resources, and supervision.




Publication History

Received: 10 November 2021

Accepted: 28 December 2021

Article published online:
09 November 2022

© 2022. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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