Worker productivity outcome measures in arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Occupational Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Arthritis is a major cause of work disability and socioeconomic burden in the working-age population.
• Existing research on arthritis and work primarily focuses on absenteeism (time missed from work).
• There is a lack of focus on presenteeism (impaired performance while at work) in arthritis literature, hindering a complete understanding of productivity loss.

Framework:

• This study reviews the conceptualization and measurement of absenteeism and presenteeism as work outcome measures.
• It highlights the need for integrated measures to capture the full impact of arthritis on worker productivity.
• The research emphasizes the importance of standardized measurement for economic costing and health state descriptions.

Implementation:

• The study advocates for developing and validating work outcome measures that include both absenteeism and presenteeism.
• It proposes a research agenda focused on psychometric testing of these measures.
• Identifying transitions in productivity states over time for workers with arthritis is a key implementation goal.

Implications:

• Accurate measurement of presenteeism alongside absenteeism is essential for a comprehensive assessment of arthritis's economic burden.
• Improved work outcome measures will enhance arthritis care by providing a clearer picture of productivity loss.
• This research aims to advance the accurate measurement of arthritis's influence on the workforce and inform policy and clinical practice.