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Anticipated significant work limitation in primary care consulters with osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study

Wilkie, Ross; Phillipson, Chris; Hay, Elaine M; Pransky, Glenn

Anticipated significant work limitation in primary care consulters with osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study Thumbnail


Authors

Chris Phillipson

Glenn Pransky



Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of expected work limitations (EWL) prior to future retirement age in osteoarthritis consulters, and the associated health, sociodemographic and workplace factors. DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study. SETTING: General practices in Staffordshire, England. PARTICIPANTS: 297 working adults aged 50-65, who had consulted primary care for osteoarthritis. OUTCOME: EWL was defined using a single question, "Do you think joint pain will limit your ability to work before you reach 69 years old?" RESULTS: 51 (17.2%) indicated that joint pain would not limit their ability to work until 69, 79 (26.6%) indicated EWL and 167 (56.2%) did not know if joint pain would limit work before 69. In bivariate analysis, physical function (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.96), depression (4.51; 1.81 to 11.3), cognitive symptom (3.84; 1.81 to 8.18), current smoker (2.75; 1.02 to 7.38), age (0.69; 0.58 to 0.82), physically demanding job (3.18; 1.50 to 6.72), no opportunities to retrain (3.01; 1.29 to 7.05) and work dissatisfaction (3.69; 1.43 to 9.49) were associated with EWL. The final multivariate model included physical function and age. CONCLUSIONS: Only one in five osteoarthritis consulters expected that joint pain would not limit their work participation before 69 years of age. Given the expectation for people to work until they are older, the results highlight the increasing need for clinicians to include work participation in their consultation and implement strategies to address work loss/limitation. Targeting pain-related functional limitation and effective communication with employers to manage workplace issues could reduce EWL.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 24, 2014
Publication Date Sep 4, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal BMJ Open
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 4
Issue 9
Article Number e005221
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005221
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005221

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