Survey of factors affecting employment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cross-sectional survey of the factors which influence work ability, work productivity, return-to-work and employment in persons with Inflammatory Bowel Disease [IBD].
IRAS ID
237982
Contact name
Paula Nunes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
Inflammatory Bowel Disease[IBD] is a long term condition which affects more than five million people worldwide. The majority of persons with the disease live in Northern Europe and North America. The working age group are those primarily affected. The illness itself is reported to impact on work ability, work productivity and employment status.
Although the impact has been studied in Europe there is little information on how it affects those in the UK.
In addition to the above, there have been promising developments in the medical treatment available, in the last decade. This treatment potentially reduces the time off work through sickness absence. Also, research suggests that the perception of disease and social factors including stigma affect how persons’ cope with the disease. This study is designed to survey the factors affecting patients through the administration of a self-reporting questionnaire.
The population chosen is patients who attend a specialist gastroenterology clinic with one of the largest cohorts of patients with the disease in the UK. The questionnaire should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. It includes two previously validated questionnaires on illness-perception and work productivity and activity impairment. The plan is to recruit 300 patients, aged between 18-65 years into the study over a period of 4 months.
The ultimate aim of the study is to give a better understanding of the difficulties faced by patients and thereby inform employers, occupational health providers and other health care providers on what adjustments or adaptations would help support them return-to-work and remain productive in work.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0065
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion