Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 1/2015

01-03-2015 | Review

Quality of Working Life Issues of Employees with a Chronic Physical Disease: A Systematic Review

Authors: Merel de Jong, Angela G. E. M. de Boer, Sietske J. Tamminga, Monique H. W. Frings-Dresen

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose To assess issues that contribute to the Quality of Working Life (QWL) of employees with a chronic physical disease. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed, PsycINFO and EMBASE. Experiences and perceptions during the working life of employees with a chronic physical disease were extracted and synthesized into issues that contributed to their QWL. We organized these synthesized QWL issues into higher order themes and categories with qualitative data analysis software. Results From a total of 4,044 articles identified by the search, 61 articles were included. Data extraction and data synthesis resulted in an overview of 73 QWL issues that were classified into 30 themes. The following five categories of themes were identified: (1) job characteristics with issues such as job flexibility and work-site access; (2) the social structure and environment containing issues about disclosure, discrimination, misunderstanding, and awareness by employers or colleagues; (3) organizational characteristics with issues such as requesting work accommodations; (4) individual work perceptions including issues about enjoyment and evaluating work or life priorities; and (5) effect of the disease and treatment including issues about cognitive and physical health and work ability. Conclusion This systematic review offers an extensive overview of issues that might contribute to the QWL of employees with a chronic physical disease. This overview may function as a starting point for occupational support, such as monitoring and evaluating the QWL of employees with a chronic physical disease during return-to-work and work continuation processes.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Harbers MM, Achterberg PW. Europeans of retirement age: chronic diseases and economic activity. Bilthoven: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (The Netherlands); 2012. p. 249.
2.
Van Oostrom SH, Picavet HS, Van Gelder BM, Lemmens LC, Hoeymans N, Verheij RA, et al. Multimorbidity and comorbidity in the Dutch population—data from general practices. In: Dutch: Multimorbiditeit en comorbiditeit in de Nederlandse bevolking—gegevens van huisartsenpraktijken. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2011;155 A 3193.
3.
Maurits E, Rijken M, Friele R. Summary about chronic diseases and work: Labour participation of people with a chronic disease or physical handicap. In: Dutch: Kennissynthese chronisch zieken en werk: Arbeidsparticipatie door mensen met een chronische ziekte of lichamelijke beperking. Utrecht: Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research; 2013 Apr. 39 p. Report No.:ISBN9789461221902.
4.
Mellon S, Northouse LL, Weiss LK. A population-based study of the quality of life of cancer survivors and their family caregivers. Cancer Nurs. 2006;29:120–31.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Blalock AC, Mcdaniel JS, Farber EW. Effect of employment on Quality of Life and psychological functioning in patients with HIV/AIDS. Psychosomatics. 2002;43:400–4.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Miller A, Dishon S. Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: the impact of disability, gender and employment status. Qual Life Res. 2006;15:259–71.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Vestling M, Tufvesson B, Iwarsson S. Indicators for return to work after stroke and the importance of work for subjective well-being and life satisfaction. J Rehabil Med. 2003;35:127–31.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Wells M, Williams B, Firnigl D, Lang H, Coyle J, Kroll T, et al. Supporting ‘work-related goals’ rather than ‘return to work’ after cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of 25 qualitative studies. Psychooncology. 2013;22:1208–19.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Roelen CA, Koopmans PC, Groothoff JW, van der Klink JJ, Bültmann U. Sickness absence and full return to work after cancer: 2-year follow-up of register data for different cancer sites. Psychooncology. 2011;20:1001–6.PubMed
10.
Feuerstein M, Hansen JA, Calvio LC, Johnson L, Ronquillo JG. Work productivity in brain tumor survivors. J Occup Environ Med. 2007;49:803–11.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Zhang W, Koehoorn M, Anis AH. Work productivity among employed Canadians with arthritis. J Occup Environ Med. 2010;52:872–7.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Detaille SI, Haafkens JA, van Dijk FJ. What employees with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and hearing loss need to cope at work. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2003;29:134–42.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Van Laar D, Edwards JA, Easton S. The Work-Related Quality of Life scale for healthcare workers. J Adv Nurs. 2007;60:325–33.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Royuela V, López-Tamayo J, Suriñach J. The institutional vs. the academic definition of the Quality of Work Life. What is the focus of the European Commission? Soc Indic Res. 2008;86:401–15.CrossRef
15.
Loscocco KA, Roschelle AR. Influences on the quality of work and nonwork life: two decades in review. J Vocat Behav. 1991;39:182–225.CrossRef
16.
Nadler DA, Lawler EE III. Quality of work life: perspectives and directions. Organ Dyn. 1983;11:20–30.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Chan KW, Wyatt TA. Quality of Work Life: a study of employees in Shanghai, China. Asia Pac Bus Rev. 2007;13:501–17.CrossRef
18.
Koonmee K, Singhapakdi A, Virakul B, Lee DJ. Ethics institutionalization, quality of work life, and employee job-related outcomes: a survey of human resource managers in Thailand. J Bus Res. 2010;63(1):20–6.CrossRef
19.
Lin S, Chaiear N, Khiewyoo J, Wu B, Johns NP. Preliminary psychometric properties of the chinese version of the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale-2 in the nursing profession. Saf Health Work. 2013;4:37–45.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
20.
Brooks BA, Anderson MA. Defining quality of nursing work life. Nurs Econ. 2005;23:319–26.PubMed
21.
Ventegodt S, Andersen NJ, Kandel I, Enevoldsen L, Merrick J. Scientific research in the quality of working-life (QWL): generic measuring of the global working life quality with the SEQWL questionnaire. Int J Disabil Hum Dev. 2008;7:201–17.
22.
Main DS, Nowels CT, Cavender TA, Etschmaier M, Steiner JF. A qualitative study of work and work return in cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2005;14:992–1004.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151:264–9.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Taylor T, Killaspy H, Wright C, Turton P, White S, Kallert T, et al. A systematic review of the international published literature relating to quality of institutional care for people with longer term mental health problems. BMC Psychiatry. 2009;9:55. doi:10.​1186/​1471-244X-9-55.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
25.
Berry DL. Return-to-work experiences of people with cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1993;20:905–11.PubMed
26.
Boudrez H, De Backer G, Comhaire B. Return to work after myocardial infarction: results of a longitudinal population based study. Eur Heart J. 1994;15:32–6.PubMed
27.
Carter BJ. Surviving breast cancer: a problematic work re-entry. Cancer Pract. 1994;2:135–40.PubMed
28.
Roessler RT, Gottcent J. The Work Experience Survey: a reasonable accommodation/career development strategy. JARC. 1994;25(3):16–21.
29.
Rumrill PD Jr, Schoenfeld NL, Holman CA, Mullins JA Jr. Ecological assessment of the career maintenance needs of employees with diabetes. Work. 1997;9(2):111–20.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Roessler RT, Rumrill PD. Reducing workplace barriers to enhance job satisfaction: an important post-employment service for employees with chronic illnesses. J Vocat Rehabil. 1998;10(3):219–29.CrossRef
31.
Lerner DJ, Amick BC III, Malspeis S, Rogers WH, Gomes DR, Salem DN. The Angina-related Limitations at Work Questionnaire. Qual Life Res. 1998;7:23–32.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Maunsell E, Brisson C, Dubois L, Lauzier S, Fraser A. Work problems after breast cancer: an exploratory qualitative study. Psychooncology. 1999;8:467–73.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Dyck I, Jongbloed L. Women with multiple sclerosis and employment issues: a focus on social and institutional environments. Can J Occup Ther. 2000;67:337–46.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Mancuso CA, Paget SA, Charlson ME. Adaptations made by rheumatoid arthritis patients to continue working: a pilot study of workplace challenges and successful adaptations. Arthritis Care Res. 2000;13:89–99.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Barlow JH, Wright CC, Williams B, Keat A. Work disability among people with ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis Care Res. 2001;45(5):424–9.CrossRef
36.
Bradley CJ, Bednarek HL. Employment patterns of long-term cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2002;11:188–98.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Allaire SH, Wei L, LaValley MP. Work barriers experienced and job accommodations used by persons with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Rehabil Couns Bull. 2003;46(3):147–56.CrossRef
38.
Howden S, Jones D, Martin D, Nicol M. Employment and chronic non-cancer pain: insights into work retention and loss. Work. 2003;20:199–204.PubMed
39.
Mancuso CA, Rincon M, Charlson ME. Adverse work outcomes and events attributed to asthma. Am J Ind Med. 2003;44:236–45.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Andries F, Kremer AM, Hoogendoorn WE, Wevers CW, van Putten DJ. Working with a chronic disorder—the development of the Work and Handicap Questionnaire. Int J Rehabil Res. 2004;27:37–44.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Backman CL. Employment and work disability in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2004;16:148–52.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Johnson KL, Yorkston KM, Klasner ER, Kuehn CM, Johnson E, Amtmann D. The cost and benefits of employment: a qualitative study of experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:201–9.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Boot CR, Vercoulen JH, van der Gulden JW, Orbon KH, van den Hoogen H, Folgering HT. Sick leave in patients with obstructive lung disease is related to psychosocial and work variables rather than to FEV1. Respir Med. 2005;99:1022–31.CrossRefPubMed
44.
De Croon EM, Sluiter JK, Nijssen TF, Kammeijer M, Dijkmans BA, Lankhorst GJ, et al. Work ability of Dutch employees with rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. 2005;34:277–83.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Gignac MA. Arthritis and employment: an examination of behavioral coping efforts to manage workplace activity limitations. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;53:328–36.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Bouknight RR, Bradley CJ, Luo Z. Correlates of return to work for breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:345–53.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Burton WN, Chen CY, Schultz AB, Conti DJ, Pransky G, Edington DW. Worker productivity loss associated with arthritis. Dis Manag. 2006;9:131–43.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Detaille SI, Haafkens JA, Hoekstra JB, van Dijk FJ. What employees with diabetes mellitus need to cope at work: views of employees and health professionals. Patient Educ Couns. 2006;64:183–90.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Medin J, Barajas J, Ekberg K. Stroke patients’ experiences of return to work. Disabil Rehabil. 2006;28:1051–60.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Varekamp I, Verbeek JH, van Dijk FJ. How can we help employees with chronic diseases to stay at work? A review of interventions aimed at job retention and based on an empowerment perspective. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2006;80:87–97.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Kennedy F, Haslam C, Munir F, Pryce J. Returning to work following cancer: a qualitative exploratory study into the experience of returning to work following cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2007;16:17–25.CrossRef
52.
Lacaille D, White MA, Backman CL, Gignac MA. Problems faced at work due to inflammatory arthritis: new insights gained from understanding patients’ perspective. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;57:1269–79.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Nachreiner NM, Dagher RK, McGovern PM, Baker BA, Alexander BH, Gerberich SG. Successful return to work for cancer survivors. AAOHN J. 2007;55:290–5.PubMed
54.
Nilsson I, Fitinghoff H, Lilja M. Continuing to work after the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Work. 2007;28:335–42.PubMed
55.
Taskila T, Lindbohm ML. Factors affecting cancer survivors’ employment and work ability. Acta Oncol. 2007;46:446–51.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Amir Z, Neary D, Luker K. Cancer survivors’ views of work 3 years post diagnosis: a UK perspective. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2008;12:190–7.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Steiner JF, Cavender TA, Nowels CT, Beaty BL, Bradley CJ, Fairclough DL, et al. The impact of physical and psychosocial factors on work characteristics after cancer. Psychooncology. 2008;17:138–47.CrossRefPubMed
58.
59.
Crockatt SY, Targett P, Cifu D, Wehman P. Return to work of individuals with arthritis: a review of job performance and retention. J Vocat Rehabil. 2009;30(2):121–31.
60.
Frazier LM, Miller VA, Miller BE, Horbelt DV, Delmore JE, Ahlers-Schmidt CR. Cancer-related tasks involving employment: opportunities for clinical assistance. J Support Oncol. 2009;7:229–36.PubMedCentralPubMed
61.
Messmer Uccelli M, Specchia C, Battaglia MA, Miller DM. Factors that influence the employment status of people with multiple sclerosis: a multi-national study. J Neurol. 2009;256:1989–96.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Feuerstein M, Todd BL, Moskowitz MC, Bruns GL, Stoler MR, Nassif T, et al. Work in cancer survivors: a model for practice and research. J Cancer Surviv. 2010;4:415–37.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Johnsson A, Fornander T, Rutqvist LE, Olsson M. Factors influencing return to work: a narrative study of women treated for breast cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2010;19:317–23.CrossRef
64.
Tiedtke C, de Rijk A, Dierckx de Casterlé B, Christiaens MR, Donceel P. Experiences and concerns about ‘returning to work’ for women breast cancer survivors: a literature review. Psychooncology. 2010;19:677–83.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Varekamp I, van Dijk FJ. Workplace problems and solutions for employees with chronic diseases. Occup Med. 2010;60:287–93.CrossRef
66.
Banning M. Employment and breast cancer: a meta-ethnography. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2011;20:708–19.CrossRef
67.
Culler KH, Wang YC, Byers K, Trierweiler R. Barriers and facilitators of return to work for individuals with strokes: perspectives of the stroke survivor, vocational specialist, and employer. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2011;18:325–40.CrossRefPubMed
68.
Hartke RJ, Trierweiler R, Bode R. Critical factors related to return to work after stroke: a qualitative study. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2011;18:341–51.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Lindbohm ML, Kuosma E, Taskila T, Hietanen P, Carlsen K, Gudbergsson S, et al. Cancer as the cause of changes in work situation (a NOCWO study). Psychooncology. 2011;20:805–12.CrossRefPubMed
70.
Van der Meer M, Hoving JL, Vermeulen MI, Herenius MM, Tak PP, Sluiter JK, et al. Experiences and needs for work participation in employees with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy. Disabil Rehabil. 2011;33:2587–95.CrossRefPubMed
71.
Mehnert A. Employment and work-related issues in cancer survivors. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2011;77:109–30.CrossRefPubMed
72.
Ten Katen K, Beelen A, Nollet F, Frings-Dresen MH, Sluiter JK. Overcoming barriers to work participation for patients with postpoliomyelitis syndrome. Disabil Rehabil. 2011;33:522–9.CrossRefPubMed
73.
Blinder VS, Murphy MM, Vahdat LT, Gold HT, de Melo-Martin I, Hayes MK, et al. Employment after a breast cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study of ethnically diverse urban women. J Commun Health. 2012;37:763–72.CrossRef
74.
Honan CA, Brown RF, Hine DW, Vowels L, Wollin JA, Simmons RD, et al. The multiple sclerosis work difficulties questionnaire. Mult Scler. 2012;18:871–80.CrossRefPubMed
75.
Høyer M, Nordin K, Ahlgren J, Bergkvist L, Lambe M, Johansson B, et al. Change in working time in a population-based cohort of patients with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30:2853–60.CrossRefPubMed
76.
Lindbohm ML, Taskila T, Kuosma E, Hietanen P, Carlsen K, Gudbergsson S, et al. Work ability of survivors of breast, prostate, and testicular cancer in Nordic countries: a NOCWO study. J Cancer Surviv. 2012;6:72–81.CrossRefPubMed
77.
McGrath PD, Hartigan B, Holewa H, Skarparis M. Returning to work after treatment for haematological cancer: findings from Australia 131. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20:1957–64.CrossRefPubMed
78.
Verhoef JA, Miedema HS, Bramsen I, Roebroeck ME. Using the Work Limitations Questionnaire in patients with a chronic condition in the Netherlands. J Occup Environ Med. 2012;54(10):1293–9.CrossRefPubMed
79.
Antao L, Shaw L, Ollson K, Reen K, To F, Bossers A, Cooper L. Chronic pain in episodic illness and its influence on work occupations: a scoping review. Work. 2013;44:11–36.PubMed
80.
Grunfeld EA, Drudge-Coates L, Rixon L, Eaton E, Cooper AF. “The only way I know how to live is to work”: a qualitative study of work following treatment for prostate cancer. Health Psychol. 2013;32:75–82.CrossRefPubMed
81.
Mendelson C, Poole JL, Allaire S. Experiencing work as a daily challenge: the case of scleroderma. Work. 2013;44:405–13.PubMed
82.
Österholm JH, Björk M, Håkansson C. Factors of importance for maintaining work as perceived by men with arthritis. Work. 2013;45:439–48.PubMed
83.
84.
Martel JP, Dupuis G. Quality of Work Life: theoretical and methodological problems, and presentation of a new model and measuring instrument. Soc Indic Res. 2006;77(2):333–68.CrossRef
85.
Sirgy MJ, Efraty D, Siegel P, Lee DJ. A new measure of Quality of Work Life (QWL) based on need satisfaction and spillover theories. Soc Indic Res. 2001;55(3):241–302.CrossRef
86.
Lerner D, Amick BC III, Rogers WH, Malspeis S, Bungay K, Cynn D. The Work Limitations Questionnaire. Med Care. 2001;39:72–85.CrossRefPubMed
87.
Abma FI, van der Klink JJ, Bültmann U. The Work Role Functioning Questionnaire 2.0 (Dutch version): examination of its reliability, validity and responsiveness in the general working population. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23:135–47.CrossRefPubMed
88.
Van Veldhoven M, Meijman TF. The measurement of psychosocial workload with a questionnaire [In Dutch: het meten van psychosociale arbeidsbelasting met een vragenlijst: de vragenlijst beleving en beoordeling van de arbeid (VBBA)]. Amsterdam: NIA; 1994.
Metadata
Title
Quality of Working Life Issues of Employees with a Chronic Physical Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors
Merel de Jong
Angela G. E. M. de Boer
Sietske J. Tamminga
Monique H. W. Frings-Dresen
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9517-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 1/2015 Go to the issue

OriginalPaper

Returning to Work Following Low Back Pain: Towards a Model of Individual Psychosocial Factors

OriginalPaper

Operationalizing a Shared Decision Making Model for Work Rehabilitation Programs: A Consensus Process

OriginalPaper

Predictors of Return to Work in Cancer Survivors in the Royal Air Force

Review

The Impact of Family and Work-Related Social Support on Musculoskeletal Injury Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Review

Measures of Patients’ Expectations About Recovery: A Systematic Review

OriginalPaper

Problem-Based Self-care Groups Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persons on Sick Leave Due to Common Mental Disorders: A Randomised Controlled Study