title: Employment and work disability in adults with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a result of prolonged survival, more patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) participate in the labour force. The aim of this study was to evaluate their education, occupation levels and risk factors for work disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  207 patients answered a self-administered questionnaire about their educational level and work status. Independently, medical records were reviewed for illness severity indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  39 patients (19%) were students, 117 (57%) were in the labour force, 13 (6%) were seeking employment and 38 (18%) were inactive. CF patients had a higher educational level and were more likely to hold skilled jobs and to work part time than the general population. FEV1 and educational level were the strongest predictive factors of disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many CF patients have access to professional life. Their higher educational levels improve the chances of attaining employment, which highlights the need for career counselling. Working part time helps to maintain employment despite declining health.
authors: Service de Pathologie Professionnelle, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité and Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Laborde-Castérot
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Donnay
authors: Jeanne
authors: J
authors: Chapron
authors: Pierre-Régis
authors: PR
authors: Burgel
authors: Reem
authors: R
authors: Kanaan
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Honoré
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Dusser
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Choudat
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Hubert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult