Process Evaluation of the Making It Work Program, an Online Program to Help People with Inflammatory Arthritis Remain Employed

Kathy Tran¹, Xi yuan Li², Xiang Chuin Seah³, Catherine Backman⁴, Brendan vanAs³, Pam Rogers², Monique Gignac⁵, John M. Esdaile³, Carter Thorne⁶, Linda Li² and Diane Lacaille⁷, ¹Simon Fraser University, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, BC, Canada, ²Rheumatology, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, BC, Canada, ³Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, BC, Canada, ⁴Rehab Medicine, University of British Columbia, Richmond, BC, Canada, ⁵Instititue for Work and Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, ⁶University of Toronto, Newmarket, ON, Canada, ⁷University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, BC, Canada

Meeting: 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 18, 2017

Keywords: Employment, inflammatory arthritis, online patient engagement and self-management

Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 5, 2017

Title: Health Services Research Poster I

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose:

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) commonly affects ability to work, yet few arthritis services exist addressing employment. We report on the process evaluation of the Making it Work program, an online self-management program to help people with IA deal with employment issues, performed in the context of a RCT testing its effectiveness at preventing work disability and improving at-work productivity.

Methods: Participants, recruited from rheumatology practices, a consumer organization (Arthritis Consumer Experts) and advertisements, were eligible if they had IA, were currently employed, aged 18-59, concerned about their ability to work. The program consists of five e-learning modules; five on-line group meetings using video conferencing led by a vocational rehabilitation counsellor (VRC); individual consults with an occupational therapist (OT) for an ergonomic work assessment and with a VRC.

Results:

All program participants by 06/17 were included (N=236) [80% female, mean(SD) age: 45(10) years, RA:52%, AS:19%, PsA:15%, SLE:14%]. All participants Jan-Dec 2016 completed a feedback survey post program (n=69). Group meetings were successfully conducted online. Overall, participation was good. Median(25;75Q) no. group meetings attended: 4(3;5), with highest attendance in the first (86%) and lowest in the fourth (63%) meetings. Reasons for not attending included work obligations, health issues, family commitments, or other time constraints. 91% and 88% met with the OT and VRC. Completion of e-learning modules [Median(25;75Q) % of total slides viewed] ranged from 73(0-100)% for module 4, to 100(30;100)% for modules 1 & 2. Not all content is relevant to all, depending on disease and job characteristics.

Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the program. 94% would recommend it to others. Median [25Q;75Q] usefulness ratings (0-10, 0=not at all, 10=very useful) were: 8 [7;10] for online modules; 9[7.5;10] for group meetings; 8 [7;10] each for ergonomic & VRC assessments. Median time to complete each module was 60 min. Satisfaction with online group meetings was high: 93% were satisfied with facilitation; 87% with group dynamic; 84% were comfortable with the online format. Median [25Q;75Q] ratings (1-10) for ability to follow group discussion: 10 [9;10]; getting to know other participants: 7 [7;10]; feeling listened to and understood: 9 [8;10]; feeling that group was supportive: 9 [7;10].

Conclusion:

Overall, online delivery of the Making it Work program was feasible and participants were highly satisfied. Our study demonstrates that self-management programs can be successfully delivered using an online format, which facilitates wider dissemination, greater convenience to patients, and lower costs.

Disclosure: K. Tran, None; X. Y. Li, None; X. C. Seah, None; C. Backman, None; B. vanAs, None; P. Rogers, None; M. Gignac, None; J. M. Esdaile, None; C. Thorne, None; L. Li, None; D. Lacaille, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Tran K, Li XY, Seah XC, Backman C, vanAs B, Rogers P, Gignac M, Esdaile JM, Thorne C, Li L, Lacaille D. Process Evaluation of the Making It Work Program, an Online Program to Help People with Inflammatory Arthritis Remain Employed [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/process-evaluation-of-the-making-it-work-program-an-online-program-to-help-people-with-inflammatory-arthritis-remain-employed/. Accessed .

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