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Managing work life with systemic sclerosis.

Sandqvist, Gunnel LU orcid ; Hesselstrand, Roger LU ; Scheja, Agneta LU and Håkansson, Carita LU orcid (2012) In Rheumatology (Oxford, England) 51. p.319-323
Abstract
Objective. To explore how individuals with SSc manage their work life.Methods. We conducted four focus group interviews, which included 17 patients currently working at least 20 h per week. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed texts were analysed according to thematic content analysis. Relevant statements that generated preliminary categories were identified, after which themes and underlying subthemes were generated.Results. The participants perceived their work role as being important, giving them a structure in everyday life and a sense of being useful members of society. Work and private life were interacting, and different adjustments had been developed to create a satisfactory balance of activities... (More)
Objective. To explore how individuals with SSc manage their work life.Methods. We conducted four focus group interviews, which included 17 patients currently working at least 20 h per week. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed texts were analysed according to thematic content analysis. Relevant statements that generated preliminary categories were identified, after which themes and underlying subthemes were generated.Results. The participants perceived their work role as being important, giving them a structure in everyday life and a sense of being useful members of society. Work and private life were interacting, and different adjustments had been developed to create a satisfactory balance of activities in daily life. Three themes emerged: adjustment of work situation, adapting to own resources and disclosing limitations. Reduced working hours, flexibility in the workplace concerning time schedule, room and tasks were all valuable adjustments, and were dependent on the employer, fellow workers as well as the individual's attitude towards informing employer and colleagues about his/her limitations. The participants had simplified and rationalized a lot of household chores and pointed to the importance of prioritizing meaningful activities, as well as the necessity of having time for rest and recovery.Conclusions. Reduced working hours, work flexibility and prioritizing meaningful activities and recovery were important factors in order to manage work life. Intervention, including problem-solving techniques and re-designing of activities in daily life, could be useful to coach individuals towards finding a balance in their work life. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
volume
51
pages
319 - 323
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000299415600018
  • pmid:22019802
  • scopus:84856112195
  • pmid:22019802
ISSN
1462-0332
DOI
10.1093/rheumatology/ker324
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
201fb874-3cdd-412f-8fe7-8622decb6366 (old id 2200285)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22019802?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:04:38
date last changed
2022-01-29 08:06:41
@article{201fb874-3cdd-412f-8fe7-8622decb6366,
  abstract     = {{Objective. To explore how individuals with SSc manage their work life.Methods. We conducted four focus group interviews, which included 17 patients currently working at least 20 h per week. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed texts were analysed according to thematic content analysis. Relevant statements that generated preliminary categories were identified, after which themes and underlying subthemes were generated.Results. The participants perceived their work role as being important, giving them a structure in everyday life and a sense of being useful members of society. Work and private life were interacting, and different adjustments had been developed to create a satisfactory balance of activities in daily life. Three themes emerged: adjustment of work situation, adapting to own resources and disclosing limitations. Reduced working hours, flexibility in the workplace concerning time schedule, room and tasks were all valuable adjustments, and were dependent on the employer, fellow workers as well as the individual's attitude towards informing employer and colleagues about his/her limitations. The participants had simplified and rationalized a lot of household chores and pointed to the importance of prioritizing meaningful activities, as well as the necessity of having time for rest and recovery.Conclusions. Reduced working hours, work flexibility and prioritizing meaningful activities and recovery were important factors in order to manage work life. Intervention, including problem-solving techniques and re-designing of activities in daily life, could be useful to coach individuals towards finding a balance in their work life.}},
  author       = {{Sandqvist, Gunnel and Hesselstrand, Roger and Scheja, Agneta and Håkansson, Carita}},
  issn         = {{1462-0332}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{319--323}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Rheumatology (Oxford, England)}},
  title        = {{Managing work life with systemic sclerosis.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ker324}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/rheumatology/ker324}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}