Development & Evaluation of the Making It Work Program for People With Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

Date Presented 04/03/2025

No programs exist to support people with systemic sclerosis (SS) to keep working. This session discusses the impact of the Making it Work Systemic Sclerosis (MiW-SS) program on job self-efficacy to make changes at work and reduce risk of job loss.

Primary Author and Speaker: Janet L. Poole

Additional Authors and Speakers: Timothy Dionne, Mary Thelander

Contributing Authors: Kristine Carandang, Anna M. Koch

Work disability is a substantial burden for people with systemic sclerosis (SS), yet, there are no tailored programs to support their employment. We adapted the Making it Work program to meet the unique challenges of people with SS in the USA. MiW-SS consists of written and live didactic online education with group problem solving. Content includes fatigue, stress, communication, ergonomics and job accommodations followed by individual occupational therapy and vocational counseling sessions.

PURPOSE: To examine the potential impact of MiW-SS on job self-efficacy to make changes at work and risk for job loss.

DESIGN: Pre-test, post-test.

METHODS: Participants were recruited from the National Scleroderma Foundation website. Inclusion criteria: >18 years of age, employed, and a self-reported SS diagnosis affecting work. Pre and post intervention, demographic and job characteristics questionnaires, Job Related Self-Efficacy Scale (JRSES) and Work Instability Scale (WIS) were completed. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The intervention, a 5-week program, met weekly via Zoom. Weekly goals were set and reported on each week.

RESULTS: Sixteen participants were divided into 3 groups. Mean age was 46.0±12.6 years; disease duration was 7.75±7.87 years; 75% were non-Hispanic White; over 94% had a college degree; and 50% were married. Significant improvements found post intervention for JRSES (p= .004), JRSES subscales of modifying tasks (p=.003) and communicating needs (p=.01), and the WIS (p=.01).

CONCLUSION: MiW-SS resulted in improvements in self-efficacy and reduced risk of work disability in a small group of employed people with SS. Larger randomized control trials are needed to determine program effectiveness.

IMPACT STATEMENT: Keeping people with chronic conditions in the workforce, receives minimal attention in occupational therapy. Our proposal describes a virtual occupational therapy self-management approach.

References

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