A213 a survey of workplace accommodations among persons with ibd.

IBD can threaten performance in the workplace with periods of decreased function and possibly periods of absence due to illness. Little is known about the accommodations that may help maintain persons with IBD in the workplace during periods of increased symptoms. To identify the experiences with workplace accommodations among persons with IBD when ill. Participants were recruited from the population-based University of Manitoba Research Registry. Those 18 to 65 years were invited to complete a survey with a section assessing experiences with workplace accommodations in 6 areas identified in earlier qualitative research as important for persons with IBD. 1143 individuals responded to the survey (46% response rate) and 881 (77%) had experienced IBD symptoms in the workplace at some point in their life. The mean age was 49.7 years 61% were female. Mean IBD duration was 20.6 years. Most respondents (73%) described IBD symptoms experienced in the workplace as severe to very severe. The accommodations considered needed when they were ill (% reporting): time to go to medical appointments during regular working hours (81%), easy access to a suitable toilet (71%), a chance to take a 30 to 60 minute break when not feeling well (54%), flexible or reduced hours of work each day (47%), flexible start time and work hours (44%), and reduced days of work each week (35%). Most arranged for the accommodations either by themselves or through informal arrangements with a supervisor; formal requests for accommodation were much less common. Some found required accommodations somewhat or very difficult to arrange with the most difficult accommodation to arrange being reduced days of work each week (35%). Bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted on three outcome variables. Requirement for two or more accommodations was most impacted by sex (female, OR=1.75 95%CI=1.18–2.60), having high levels of current emotional distress (OR=1.86 95%CI=1.19–2.89) and those with higher reported disease severity OR=2.45 95%CI=1.63–3.68). Not asking for required accommodations was most impacted by age (>53 years {median split}, OR=1.47 95%CI=1.05–2.06), having high levels of current emotional distress (OR=1.65 95%CI=1.19–2.28) and having higher reported disease severity (1.78 95%CI=1.24–2.55). Having increased difficulty in arranging for accommodations was most impacted by sex (female, OR=1.77 95%CI=1.19–2.63), those with higher reported disease severity (OR=1.86 95%CI=1.16–2.99) and those with high levels of current emotional distress (OR=2.29 95%CI=1.58–3.33). The knowledge of accommodations required by persons with IBD and areas where there may be difficulty arranging them will assist in educating persons with IBD and their employers. This in turn could result in better support in the workplace. Abbvie Canada