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Tracking the impact of multiple sclerosis on employment status: the development of a questionnaire
Evangelina Valeria Cores1,2,3, Judith Steinberg4, Carolina Cuesta1,2,3
1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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.
