Getting the work done: a qualitative study of individuals with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Work can be defined as an activity performed to accomplish something in the presence of obstacles that may make accomplishing the goal difficult. For individuals with MS, work is not only limited by physical impairments but also by factors such as fatigue and cognitive changes


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to examine the experiences of individuals with mild to moderate MS as they carry out everyday work activities both inside and outside the home.


METHODS
Eleven women and three men were recruited from the community to participate in a series of semi-structured interviews. Using qualitative research methodology that examined the experiences of the participants, two major themes and seven subthemes emerged.


RESULTS
The first theme, Defining the work, included Priorities: seeing what's important; Plans: learning about resources and requirements; and


CONCLUSIONS
fixing it yourself. The second theme, Changing how things get done, includes Precipitating factors; Awareness; Constructing the strategies; and Evaluating the strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with MS develop strategies and utilize resources in order to get the work done. Comparisons are made between existing intervention theories or programmes and the experiences described by participants in this study.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6490, USA. Yorkston@u.washington.edu
Kathryn M
KM
Yorkston
Kurt
K
Johnson
Estelle R
ER
Klasner
Dagmar
D
Amtmann
Carrie M
CM
Kuehn
Brian
B
Dudgeon
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D014937:Work