title: A pilot study on factors involved with work participation in the early stages of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Up to 30% of recently diagnosed MS patients lose their jobs in the first four years after diagnosis. Taking into account the personal and socio-economic importance of sustaining employment, it is of the utmost importance to examine factors involved with work participation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate differences in self-reported functioning in recently diagnosed MS patients with and without a paid job.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reports of physical and cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety and fatigue were gathered from 44 relapsing-remitting MS patients diagnosed within 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with a paid job (57%) reported better physical functioning (p<0.001), better memory functioning (p = 0.01) and a lower physical impact of fatigue (p = 0.018) than patients without a paid job. Physical functioning was the main predictor of employment status in a logistic regression model. In those with a paid job better memory functioning (r = 0.54, p = 0.005) and a lower social impact of fatigue (r =  -0.46, p = 0.029) correlated with an increased number of working hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better physical functioning is the primary factor involved with increased work participation in early MS. Better self-reported memory functioning and less social fatigue were associated with increased working hours. These findings highlight the importance of battling these symptoms in the early stages of MS.
authors.affiliation: National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Maassluis, The Netherlands; Leiden University, Department of Psychology, Section Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van der Hiele
authors.affiliation: Leiden University, Department of Psychology, Section Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Neurology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Huub A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Middelkoop
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychiatric Centre PsyToBe, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruimschotel
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Neurology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Noëlle G A
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kamminga
authors.affiliation: St. Elisabeth Hospital, Department of Neurology, Tilburg, The Netherlands; University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leo H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Visser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications*; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D004651:Employment; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work