The capability set for work - correlates of sustainable employability in workers with multiple sclerosis

D A M van Gorp; J J L van der Klink; F I Abma; P J Jongen; I van Lieshout; E P J Arnoldus; E A C Beenakker; H M Bos; J J J van Eijk; J Fermont; S T F M Frequin; K de Gans; G J D Hengstman; R M M Hupperts; J P Mostert; P H M Pop; W I M Verhagen; D Zemel; M A P Heerings; M F Reneman; H A M Middelkoop; L H Visser; K van der Hiele

doi:10.1186/s12955-018-0942-7

The capability set for work - correlates of sustainable employability in workers with multiple sclerosis

Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018 Jun 1;16(1):113. doi: 10.1186/s12955-018-0942-7.

Authors

D A M van Gorp^{1

2

3

4}, J J L van der Klink⁵, F I Abma⁶, P J Jongen^{6

7}, I van Lieshout⁸, E P J Arnoldus⁹, E A C Beenakker¹⁰, H M Bos¹¹, J J J van Eijk¹², J Fermont¹³, S T F M Frequin¹⁴, K de Gans¹⁵, G J D Hengstman¹⁶, R M M Hupperts¹⁷, J P Mostert¹⁸, P H M Pop¹⁹, W I M Verhagen²⁰, D Zemel²¹, M A P Heerings²², M F Reneman²³, H A M Middelkoop^{24

25}, L H Visser^{9

26}, K van der Hiele^{22

24

9}

Affiliations

¹ National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Mathenesserlaan 378, Rotterdam, 3023 HB, The Netherlands. dennis.vangorp@phd.uvh.nl.
² Department of Psychology, Section Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, Leiden, 2300 RB, The Netherlands. dennis.vangorp@phd.uvh.nl.
³ Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, PO Box 90151, Tilburg, 5000 LC, The Netherlands. dennis.vangorp@phd.uvh.nl.
⁴ Department of Care Ethics, University of Humanistic Studies, PO Box 797, Utrecht, 3500 AT, The Netherlands. dennis.vangorp@phd.uvh.nl.
⁵ Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Centre for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, Tilburg, 5000 LE, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Community & Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, PO Box 30001, Groningen, 9700 RB, The Netherlands.
⁷ MS4 Research Institute, Ubbergseweg 34, Nijmegen, 9522 KJ, The Netherlands.
⁸ van Lieshout Arbo Advies, PO Box 325, Uden, 5400 AH, The Netherlands.
⁹ Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, PO Box 90151, Tilburg, 5000 LC, The Netherlands.
¹⁰ Department of Neurology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, PO Box 888, Leeuwarden, 8901 BR, The Netherlands.
¹¹ Department of Neurology, St. Anna Hospital, PO Box 90, Geldrop, 5660 AB, The Netherlands.
¹² Department of Neurology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, PO Box 90153, s-Hertogenbosch, 2000 ME, The Netherlands.
¹³ Department of Neurology, Amphia Hospital, PO Box 90158, Breda, 4800 RK, The Netherlands.
¹⁴ Department of Neurology, St. Antonius Hospital, PO Box 2500, Nieuwegein, 3430 EM, The Netherlands.
¹⁵ Department of Neurology, Groene Hart Hospital, PO Box 1098, Gouda, 2800 BB, The Netherlands.
¹⁶ Department of Neurology, Catharina Hospital, PO Box 1350, Eindhoven, 5602 ZA, The Netherlands.
¹⁷ Department of Neurology, Zuyderland Medical Centre, PO Box 5500, Sittard, 6130 MB, The Netherlands.
¹⁸ Department of Neurology, Rijnstate Hospital, PO Box 9555, Arnhem, 6800 TA, The Netherlands.
¹⁹ Department of Neurology, VieCuri Medical Centre, PO Box 1926, Venlo, 5900 BX, The Netherlands.
²⁰ Department of Neurology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, PO Box 9015, Nijmegen, 6500 GS, The Netherlands.
²¹ Department of Neurology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, PO Box 444, Dordrecht, 3300 AK, the Netherlands.
²² National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Mathenesserlaan 378, Rotterdam, 3023 HB, The Netherlands.
²³ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.002, Haren, 9750 RA, the Netherlands.
²⁴ Department of Psychology, Section Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, Leiden, 2300 RB, The Netherlands.
²⁵ Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands.
²⁶ Department of Care Ethics, University of Humanistic Studies, PO Box 797, Utrecht, 3500 AT, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine whether work capabilities differ between workers with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and workers from the general population. The second aim was to investigate whether the capability set was related to work and health outcomes.

Methods: A total of 163 workers with MS from the MS@Work study and 163 workers from the general population were matched for gender, age, educational level and working hours. All participants completed online questionnaires on demographics, health and work functioning. The Capability Set for Work Questionnaire was used to explore whether a set of seven work values is considered valuable (A), is enabled in the work context (B), and can be achieved by the individual (C). When all three criteria are met a work value can be considered part of the individual's 'capability set'.

Results: Group differences and relationships with work and health outcomes were examined. Despite lower physical work functioning (U = 4250, p = 0.001), lower work ability (U = 10591, p = 0.006) and worse self-reported health (U = 9091, p ≤ 0.001) workers with MS had a larger capability set (U = 9649, p ≤ 0.001) than the general population. In workers with MS, a larger capability set was associated with better flexible work functioning (r = 0.30), work ability (r = 0.25), self-rated health (r = 0.25); and with less absenteeism (r = - 0.26), presenteeism (r = - 0.31), cognitive/neuropsychiatric impairment (r = - 0.35), depression (r = - 0.43), anxiety (r = - 0.31) and fatigue (r = - 0.34).

Conclusions: Workers with MS have a larger capability set than workers from the general population. In workers with MS a larger capability set was associated with better work and health outcomes.

Trial registration: This observational study is registered under NL43098.008.12: 'Voorspellers van arbeidsparticipatie bij mensen met relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerose'. The study is registered at the Dutch CCMO register ( https://www.toetsingonline.nl ). This study is approved by the METC Brabant, 12 February 2014. First participants are enrolled 1^st of March 2014.

Keywords: Capability set for work; Health; Multiple sclerosis; Sustainable employability; Work.

Publication types

Validation Study

MeSH terms

Absenteeism
Adult
Anxiety / etiology*
Case-Control Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / etiology*
Employment / psychology
Employment / statistics & numerical data*
Fatigue / etiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis / complications*
Multiple Sclerosis / psychology
Outcome Assessment, Health Care / standards*
Quality of Life
Work Capacity Evaluation*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

842003003/ZonMw