title: Exploring employment in consultation reports of patients with neuromuscular diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore consultation reports for patient and employment characteristics and recommendations on employment regarding patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of multidisciplinary reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient neuromuscular clinic at a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reports (N=102) of patients with NMDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on one-off consultations by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists and a multidisciplinary meeting, recommendations were developed regarding therapy content and volume in primary care or rehabilitation settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A checklist has been developed to examine employment characteristics. A general questionnaire has been used including demographic variables and data on employment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 102 reports available, 86 were included for analysis. Sixty-nine reports contained information on employment. Thirty-seven patients (43%) with NMD were employed, most in white-collar or moderately strenuous jobs. Of the 37 employed patients, 28 (76%) worked using adaptations. Thirty-two (87%) had employment problems; of these, 15 (40%) needed improvement in 1 or more environmental factors. Twenty patients (54%) needed advice regarding participation in employment, of whom 19 were referred to primary care or rehabilitation settings for treatment to enhance employment participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eighty percent of the included consultation reports contained information on employment. Less than half the patients with NMD were employed, most in office-related jobs, using some kind of adaptations. Nineteen of 20 patients who agreed to recommendations regarding therapy were adequately referred by occupational therapists and physical therapists for treatment of employment problems.
authors.affiliation: HAN University of Applied Sciences, Department Occupational Health, Prevention and Reintegration, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. marieantoinette.vankuyk@han.nl
authors.forename: Marie-Antoinette
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Minis
authors.forename: Edith H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cup
authors.forename: Yvonne F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Heerkens
authors.forename: Josephine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Baziel G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: van Engelen
authors.forename: Rob A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oostendorp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013070:Speech Therapy