POS0153-HPR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN JOB SELF-EFFICACY AND RISK OF WORK DISABILITY IN PEOPLE WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS ENROLLED IN THE MAKING IT WORK SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PROGRAM
Authors: J. L. Poole, K. Carandang, M. Thelander-Hill, D. Lacaille, T. Dionne
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Systemic sclerosis (SSc) severely limits participation in paid employment, which may threaten a person's economic, social, physical, or mental wellbeing [1]. The prevalence of work disability within this population increases substantially from diagnosis to even just three years after disease onset. Still, no programs and very little resources exist to help people with SSc remain in the workforce. SSc related work disability has often been associated with a variety of demographic factors (e.g., lower education) and disease characteristics (e.g., longer disease duration, diffuse skin involvement). However, fewer studies have examined its relationship with psychosocial characteristics such as self-efficacy, which is often the target of non-pharmacological self-management intervention. <h3>Objectives:</h3> This study describes and examines associations between demographics, disease characteristics, job demands and job related self-efficacy, and risk for work disability of a sample of people with SSc who are enrolled in a clinical trial to assess the feasibility of the Making it Work-Systemic Sclerosis (MiW-SS) program. <h3>Methods:</h3> People with SSc who enrolled in the MiW-SS study completed baseline questionnaires on demographics (age, education, marital status, gender, ethnicity, race,), disease characteristics (scleroderma type, disease duration, pain and fatigue levels) and job demands (positions, concentrating, pace, workplace mobility). They also completed the Job-Related Self-Efficacy Scale (JRSES) and the Work Instability Scale (WIS). The JRSES measures confidence of workers for managing problems/challenges at work. The WIS assesses people risk for future job loss and categorized people in to low (&lt;10), medium (10-17) or high risk of work disability (&gt;17). Pearson correlation coefficients examined relationships between the variables. <h3>Results:</h3> This sample included 26 participants who were enrolled in the trial so far: 96.2% female, mean age 44.9 ±10 years, mean disease duration 7.6±6.9 years, 42.3% had diffuse SSc, 73% were employed full time. Self-reported pain was 5.2±2.5 and fatigue was 5.9± 2.2. Mean total score on the JRSES was 6.6 ±1.9 indicating medium self-efficacy. Mean subscale scores were 7.4±1.51 for confidence meeting job needs; 6.4±1.9 for modifying tasks, and 6.2±2.6 for communicating needs. The mean score on the WIS was 12.7±5.9 and 50% of participants' scores were between 10-17, indicating a medium risk of work disability. There was no significant relationship between total JRSES and WIS scores; however, the relationship between the JRSES subscale score for confidence modifying tasks and total WIS was significant (r=-.42, p&lt;.05). Job demands of concentrating (r=-.65, p&lt;.05), pacing (p=-.57, p&lt;.05), and working in awkward positions (r=-.43, p &lt;.05) correlated significantly with the total JRSES. Confidence in modifying tasks on the JRSES correlated with age (r=.42, p&lt;.05), difficulty working with hands (r=-.42, p&lt;.05), difficulty concentrating (r=-.65, p&lt;.01), pacing (r=-.57, p&lt;.01) and working in awkward positions such as bending, kneeling, crouching (r=-43, p&lt;.05). Confidence in communicating needs on the JRSES correlated with difficulty concentrating (r=-.53, p&lt;.01), pacing (r=-.43, p&lt;.05), and working in awkward positions (r=-.44, p&lt;05). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> People with SSc who enrolled in a trial of the MiW-SS study had medium levels of job-related self-efficacy and were at moderate risk for work disability. Relationships between the JRSES subscales of modifying tasks and communicating needs and the job demands of concentrating, pacing and working in awkward positions suggests that learning adaptation/modifications available for these tasks and how to advocate for accommodations may improve work productivity and employment rates for people with SSc. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Lee JJY, Gignac MAM, Johnson SR. Employment outcomes in systemic sclerosis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2021 S;35(3):101667. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>