OP0169-PARE DEVELOPMENT OF POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN SUPPORTING PERSONS WITH REUMATIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE PAID WORK
Authors: A. Boonen, S. Verstappen, M. Butink, C. Webers, N. Betteridge, T. Stamm, D. Wiek, A. Woolf, G. R. Burmester, H. Bijlsma
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Despite earlier diagnosis and improved management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), a work participation gap remains when compared to the general population. To bridge this work participation gap, EULAR’s current strategy states that ‘ by 2023, EULAR’s activities and related advocacy will have increased participation in work by people with RMDs’ . To achieve this goal, guidance is needed how to support people with RMDs to remain in paid work or (re)-enter the labour force. Objectives: To develop Points to Consider (PtC) when supporting people with RMD to participate in healthy and sustainable paid work. Methods: An international expert group, established by Eular in 2019, convened twice to agree on a protocol for the development of PtC. EULAR’s standard operating procedures were followed. The group (a) defined the target audience, (b) identified areas from which knowledge should be derived to enable formulation of the PtC, (c) agreed on a strategy to collect evidence, (d) established an international taskforce to formulate and agree on the PtC, and (e) proposed an implementation plan. Results: The target audience are professionals involved in clinical care for patients with RMDs as well as their organisations, persons with RMDs and their organisations, and administrators responsible for healthcare and work policies. Six knowledge areas are identified (Table). Depending on the specific knowledge area, strategies for collecting evidence comprise synthesis of published and grey literature, surveys among various organisations and collection of case studies from employers. Whenever evidence in RMDs is limited, evidence from other chronic diseases will be sought. The international taskforce includes experts from different disciplines in rheumatology (one in other chronic diseases), EU policy makers, and representatives of PARE, HCP, EULAR Public Affairs and EMEUNET. As part of the implementation, close cooperation with national professional and patients societies is planned. Additionally, results will be included in EULAR‘s activities at the EU policy level. Table 1. Knowledge areas and strategy to retrieve evidence In persons with RMDs: Sources of evidence 1 Is work relevant for the clinical outcome of disease LR; Review of managament recommendations and Care Standards 2 What are barriers and facilitators to enter or stay in the labor force SLR 3 What is the effectiveness of interventions to enter or stay in the labor force SLR; Survey among professional and patient organisations 4 Which social security systems are more effective when entering or staying in the labor force LR 5 How does disease influence the cycle of work SLR; Grey literature 6 What (not) to do by employers to let patients enter or stay in the work force SLR; Survey among large companies; case studies LR: Literature review; SLR: Systematic literature review Conclusion: The proposed initiative to develop PtC should ultimately result in improvement of healthy and sustainable labor force participation of people with RMDs. Disclosure of Interests: Annelies Boonen Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Suzanne Verstappen: None declared, Maarten Butink: None declared, Casper Webers: None declared, Neil Betteridge: None declared, Tanja Stamm: None declared, Dieter Wiek: None declared, Anthony Woolf: None declared, Gerd Rüdiger Burmester: None declared, Hans Bijlsma: None declared