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Reduced labor force participation among primary care patients with headache

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term impact of headache on labor force participation among primary care patients with headache.

DESIGN: A 2-year cohort study comparing employment status of primary care patients with headache and that of patients with back pain.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients with headache (n=662) or back pain (n=1,024) sampled from persons visiting a primary care physician who completed baseline, 1-year and 2-year follow-up interviews.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The percentage of subjects unemployed at baseline, 1 year or 2 years was determined, excluding the retired and homemakers. Among all patients, the percentage unable to obtain or keep full-time work in the year prior to each interview because of headache or back pain was also assessed. Over the 3-year period covered by the study interviews, 13% of headache and 18% of back pain patients were unable to obtain or keep full-time work because of their pain condition. Among those in the labor force, 12% of headache patients and 12% of back pain patients were unemployed for any reason at one or more interviews. Among the one in five headache patients with a poor longterm outcome, 36% were unable to obtain or keep full-time work because of headache at some time compared with 4% of headache patients with a good outcome. Among headache patients, women, persons aged 18 to 24 years, those with lower levels of education, persons with depressive symptoms, and migraineurs were more likely to have reduced labor force participation owing to headache.

CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of reduced labor force participation among primary care patients with headache was considerable and concentrated among the one in five patients with a poor long-term outcome. Headache patients at a social disadvantage in attaining occupational role stability (e.g., younger women or poorly educated patients) were more likely to report reduced labor force participation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Glaxo Research Institute and University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill

    Paul Stang PhD

  2. Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, Wash

    Michael Von Korff ScD

  3. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

    Bradley S. Galer MD

Authors
  1. Paul Stang PhD
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  2. Michael Von Korff ScD
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  3. Bradley S. Galer MD
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Additional information

Supported by grants from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (RO1 HS06168) and the National Institute of Dental Research (PO1 DE08773), and Glaxo Research Institute. The contributions of Kathleen Saunders to this research are gratefully acknowledged.

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Stang, P., Von Korff, M. & Galer, B.S. Reduced labor force participation among primary care patients with headache. J GEN INTERN MED 13, 296–302 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00094.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00094.x

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