Multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation for patients with chronic arthritis

Abstract

Working gainfully is a major activity of adult life, providing income, structure, social interaction and an opportunity to learn and practice skills, and a source of self-esteem. In people with chronic arthritis work disability is common, having a major impact upon individuals as well as society. In the Netherlands, rheumatic diseases account for about 15% of the costs due to work disability payments. Given this significance, work retention issues have been identified as one of the aims of the management of chronic arthritis. Apart from the optimization of medical treatment, in many countries structured vocational rehabilitation programs are being offered to patients with chronic arthritis, with the aim of preventing the loss of paid employment or enhancing return to work. The aim of the present thesis was to describe the evidence regarding the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation programs in patients with chronic arthritis. Moreover, this thesis includes an evaluation of a multidisciplinary job retention vocational rehabilitation program aimed at the prevention of work disability in patients with chronic arthritis who were at risk for job loss. In addition, the co-operation between rheumatologists and occupational physicians in the process of vocational rehabilitation was evaluated.