Status for and associations between disability, employment, barriers for work and health-related quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) often face complex challenges leading to work-related barriers, reduced employment and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

OBJECTIVES

Explore status for and associations between disability, employment, work barriers and HRQOL in pwMS.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey, 252 pwMS (49.2% of the 512 invited) aged ≥18 in Nordland County, Norway.

MEASUREMENTS: Demographics, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), employment status, MS Work Difficulties Questionnaire-23(MSWDQ-23), and MS Quality of Life-54(MSQOL-54).

ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation in IBM SPSS-27/28.

RESULTS

Participants had mean EDSS 2.8 [SD2.2], age 52.3 years [SD12.9], 43.7% were currently working, 22.6% held full positions. The mean preferred work percentage in a tailored job was 81.9% [SD24.9] (employed) and 32.3% (non-employed). Disability benefits started early, mean 43.85 years [SD10.65]. Associations were weak between EDSS and work-percentage (r = -0.286), work-related barriers (r = 0.34) and MSQOL-54 Mental Health Composite Score (HCS) (r = -0.27), while moderate for Physical HCS (r = 0.53) and between Physical HCS and work percentage (r = 0.45).

CONCLUSION

Unemployment occurred at all disability levels. While physical problems increased over time, mental factors impacted employment at any disability level. However, both employed and unemployed want to work more, indicating possibilities for sustained employment if the job is individually adjusted.