title: Work ability in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: An explorative and descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are rare, chronic inflammatory diseases leading to muscle weakness and low muscle endurance. The muscle weakness may lead to restrictions in daily activities and low health-related quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the work situation, work ability, work-related risk factors, and influence of the physical and psycho-social work environment in patients with PM and DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PM/DM were assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI), and the Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients (PM n = 25 and DM n = 23) participated (women/men: 29/19) with a mean age of 54 years (range 28-67 years, SD.10) and mean disease duration of nine years (SD.9). Forty-four percent worked full-time, 31% part-time and 25% were on full-time sick leave. More than 50% self-rated work ability as "poor" or "less good". Physically strenuous work components were present "quite to very often" in 23-79% and more in patients on sick leave ≥ 2 years. For those working, the interfering factors in the work environment concerned task and time demands. Supporting factors concerned meaning of work, interactions with co-workers and others. Self-rated work ability correlated moderately-highly positive with percentage of full-time employment, work-related risk factors and opportunities and constraints in the work environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor self-rated work ability is common in patients with PM/DM indicating a need to identify interfering risk factors and support patients to enhance work performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden.|Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.|Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital at Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Welin Henriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital at Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.|The Rehabilitation Medicine University Clinic, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schult
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: Work Ability Index (WAI); Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS); occupational therapy; vocational rehabilitation; work-related risk factors