P028 Workplace wellness: axial spondyloarthritis employment survey and awareness of occupational therapy support

This study was part of a quality improvement project delivered by the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) with an aim to improve care for people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA). Inverclyde Royal Hospital provides an axial SpA service to people in the Inverclyde region of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; it is one of the most deprived areas in the UK. Historically, people with axial SpA have not accessed occupational therapy (OT) support despite expressing that they face challenges with work, fatigue and activities of daily living. A research study looking at people working with axial SpA suggested that 45% of people had to change their type of employment and a further 24% had to give up working completely. Aims: run a survey to gather the views of people living with axial SpA in the Inverclyde region of Scotland regarding their employment status and potential challenges in the workplace; to discover what resources would help to support employment issues; to find out if people attending the clinic had an awareness of the role of OT and how to access support.

A questionnaire using MS forms to capture qualitative and quantitative data on the challenges with employment for people with axial SpA. This was carried out face to face in the clinic and was completed regardless of work status.

A total of 42 people to date have completed the survey. The results included: 31% had given up working as a result of their condition; 55% of people living with axial SpA are worried about their ability to maintain employment; fatigue was the main area that people would like support to manage in the workplace, closely followed by information to employers; there was very limited awareness of the role of OT and how to access support services.

People with axial SpA that completed the survey have challenges with work because of fatigue, lack of awareness by employers on their condition, low mood and limited awareness of their legal rights. OT can offer support with long term condition management in the workplace, but this survey demonstrated minimal awareness of the role and how to access support. Our next steps are to: replicate the survey in other clinics in Greater Glasgow and Clyde to establish if similar results/themes emerge; promote and develop the role of OT in supporting people with axial SpA with employment issues; pilot the use of the AS Wis outcome measure in clinic to identify individuals who are at risk of falling out of employment and would benefit from OT support.

P. Bisset: None. J. Bunemann: None.