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Work productivity loss among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India: a qualitative study

Work productivity loss among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India: a qualitative study
Work productivity loss among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India: a qualitative study
Objective

To explore to what extent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impacts on work productivity loss in patients living with RA in India.

Methods

Face to face semi structured interviews took place in 13 male and 7 female patients attending outpatient clinics at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, India living with RA. Patients currently working were recruited. Data were audio recorded, transcribed by an independent translation company and were analysed using the framework method of thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes that explained patients’ experiences of coping with work whilst having RA were identified. These included [1] “Balancing act of work and RA” where participants expressed their day to day struggle living with RA and coping at work. [2] “Work place adaptation after RA”: here participants shared insights into communicating with employers and their efforts to adapt at work place. [3] “Support from others and information to manage RA and work”: here participants had considered seeking support from different sources that would help them cope at work and understand RA. [4] “Wanting a better support mechanism”: here participants made recommendations that could help them cope at work.

Conclusion

This is the first study to have explored the impact of RA on patients’ work productivity in India. Patients may have different support needs compared to previous studies in other countries. Patients seem to be employing additional coping strategies not addressed by current interventions or country systems, which may not be sufficient to support patients in staying employed. Patients made future recommendations.
Jain, Avinash
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Aggarwal, Amita
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Adams, Joanna
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Jordan, Rachel E.
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Sadhra, Steven
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Dubey, Shirish
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Allen, Kerry
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Kumar, Kanta
fccdd642-143f-40ba-8b18-9dba64396be0
Jain, Avinash
4afb0140-9e3c-4ad1-bd3e-1b1808a7af21
Aggarwal, Amita
d9ce48ff-7ec5-47ae-b58d-92712776b853
Adams, Joanna
6e38b8bb-9467-4585-86e4-14062b02bcba
Jordan, Rachel E.
1a70964c-42a2-4132-8f79-7485e14e839b
Sadhra, Steven
17ddb354-bc50-43a2-80e9-679f183707a0
Dubey, Shirish
5c8342cc-9087-42ff-ac90-05140557c79a
Allen, Kerry
31091f0d-1be9-4c3d-9a6a-56d45e56516a
Kumar, Kanta
fccdd642-143f-40ba-8b18-9dba64396be0

Jain, Avinash, Aggarwal, Amita, Adams, Joanna, Jordan, Rachel E., Sadhra, Steven, Dubey, Shirish, Allen, Kerry and Kumar, Kanta (2019) Work productivity loss among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India: a qualitative study. Rheumatology Advances in Practice. (doi:10.1093/rap/rkz046).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective

To explore to what extent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impacts on work productivity loss in patients living with RA in India.

Methods

Face to face semi structured interviews took place in 13 male and 7 female patients attending outpatient clinics at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, India living with RA. Patients currently working were recruited. Data were audio recorded, transcribed by an independent translation company and were analysed using the framework method of thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes that explained patients’ experiences of coping with work whilst having RA were identified. These included [1] “Balancing act of work and RA” where participants expressed their day to day struggle living with RA and coping at work. [2] “Work place adaptation after RA”: here participants shared insights into communicating with employers and their efforts to adapt at work place. [3] “Support from others and information to manage RA and work”: here participants had considered seeking support from different sources that would help them cope at work and understand RA. [4] “Wanting a better support mechanism”: here participants made recommendations that could help them cope at work.

Conclusion

This is the first study to have explored the impact of RA on patients’ work productivity in India. Patients may have different support needs compared to previous studies in other countries. Patients seem to be employing additional coping strategies not addressed by current interventions or country systems, which may not be sufficient to support patients in staying employed. Patients made future recommendations.

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Work productivity loss among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India a qualitative study - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 4 November 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 20 November 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 435837
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/435837
PURE UUID: 7be3501d-bcca-4147-8c7a-1b46de5a483c
ORCID for Joanna Adams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-7060

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 21 Nov 2019 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:42

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Contributors

Author: Avinash Jain
Author: Amita Aggarwal
Author: Joanna Adams ORCID iD
Author: Rachel E. Jordan
Author: Steven Sadhra
Author: Shirish Dubey
Author: Kerry Allen
Author: Kanta Kumar

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