WORKWELL: Testing Work Advice for People With Arthritis

Summary

Background: Inflammatory arthritis (IA) causes work disability, absenteeism (sick leave) and presenteeism (reduced productivity) at high cost to individuals, employers and society. A trial of job retention vocational rehabilitation (VR) amongst people with IA in the US showed that VR reduced work disability. However, it is unknown whether this approach transfers to the United Kingdom (UK) with a different social and welfare structure. Previously, we modified the VR for the UK, funded by Arthritis Research UK (the WORKWELL programme) and demonstrated it to be deliverable and acceptable in a feasibility trial. Our aim now is to move to the definitive UK trial testing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of WORKWELL.

Methods: A multicentre randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Employed people with rheumatoid, psoriatic or inflammatory arthritis (n=240), with concerns about continuing working due to arthritis, will be randomized to receive WORKWELL or control (written advice). WORKWELL includes individualised VR (maximum 4.5 hours over several months): assessing work problems; encouraging arthritis self-management in the workplace; addressing ergonomics; considering fatigue and stress management; providing orthoses and educating on employment rights and support services, assistive technology and work modifications. It also includes psychological and disclosure support, workplace visits and employer liaison (as applicable). Outcomes will be assessed at 0, 6 and 12 months by questionnaire. The primary outcome is the Work Limitations Questionnaire-25 (measuring presenteeism: summed score) at 12 and 36 months, with cost-effectiveness analysis at 12 months.

Discussion: If effective and cost-effective, WORKWELL can be rolled out in Rheumatology services to help improve the quality and duration of people with arthritis' working lives.

Conditions

• Arthritis, Rheumatoid
• Arthritis, Psoriatic
• Arthritis, Inflammatory

Interventions

OTHER

WORKWELL

Individualised, tailored work advice and work/vocational rehabilitation, including self-management and job modifications.

OTHER

Control

Published arthritis work booklets;written guidance on work problem identification; potential actions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Central Lancashire

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Manchester

  collaborator OTHER

• Versus Arthritis

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Salford

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yeliz Prior, PhD · University of Salford

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

68 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-03-22

Primary Completion

2024-04-30

Completion

2024-04-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations