Article

PURPOSE: To examine and describe the factors promoting sustainable work in women
with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: A qualitative interview study. Twenty-seven
gainfully employed women with FM participated in five focus group interviews.
Their median age was 52 years, ranging from 33 to 62. The interviews were
recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by qualitative latent content
analysis. RESULTS: Four categories were identified describing factors promoting
sustainable work: the meaning of work and individual strategies were individual
promoters while a favourable work environment and social support outside work
were environmental promoters. The meaning of work included individual meaning and
social meaning. The individual strategies included handling symptoms, the work
day and long-term work life. A favourable work environment included the physical
and psychosocial work environment. Social support outside work included societal
and private social supports. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting factors for work were
identified, involving individual and environmental factors. These working women
with FM had developed advanced well-functioning strategies to enhance their work
ability. The development of such strategies should be supported by health-care
professionals as well as employers to promote sustainable work in women with FM.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Work disability is a common consequence of
fibromyalgia (FM). Working women with FM appear to have developed advanced
well-functioning individual strategies to enhance their work ability. The
development of individual strategies should be supported by health-care
professionals as well as employers to promote sustainable work and health in
women with FM.

Langue : ANGLAIS