“Without Them, I Would Never Have Been Able to Carry on” Levers for the Sustained Employment of Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis: A French Qualitative Study

Background. Chronic inflammatory arthritis (IA) is known to be involved in declining work outcomes and increased risk of experiencing unemployment. The aim of this study is to qualitatively identify the levers for the employment of patients with IA and AI-like conditions. Methods. To accomplish this task, a multi-centered, exploratory qualitative design involving one-on-one semi-directed interviews and a focus group was performed among 18 IA French patients to deepen our understanding of what enables patients to maintain employment despite the limiting, chronic, and expanding nature of their symptoms. Results. Analysis revealed five clusters of levers for the employment of chronic IA patients: The first cluster of levers was based on a set of verbatim records mentioning an overall improvement in the management of the disease. The second cluster of levers was based on a set of verbatim records mentioning the perceived added value of one’s occupation at a personal, familial, or societal scale. The third cluster of levers was based on a set of verbatim records mentioning the perceived interpersonal supportiveness of the professional sphere. The fourth cluster of levers was based on a set of verbatim records mentioning the micro-, meso-, and macro-characteristics of the working environment. The fifth cluster of levers was based on a set of verbatim records mentioning intrapersonal attributes. Conclusions. This study deepens and updates the current knowledge on what empowers patients dealing with chronic AI. These results provide valuable insights for stakeholders involved in designing or deploying employment initiatives for patients with AI.