Chronic conditions and work
Chronic conditions refer to diseases and health conditions that last a long time and generally progress slowly. Although they can occur at any age, they become more common later in life. They are often invisible, sometimes episodic (i.e. they come and go) and often characterized by fluctuating symptoms that leave people disabled one day and functional the next. Examples of chronic diseases include arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, depression and fibromyalgia. IWH research in this area focuses on the effects of chronic disease on work participation and productivity, as well as the effectiveness of job accommodations, benefits and other programs to ensure workers with chronic disease can stay at, or return to, work.
Featured
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Research Highlights
How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?
Episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their symptoms and work demands. An IWH study investigated the health impacts of employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities.
Published: April 8, 2024
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IWH Speaker Series
Unveiling the JDAPT: A new interactive tool to identify work-related support strategies for workers with chronic conditions and disability
In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac describes the JDAPT tool, its development, as well as data from two studies on the tool. She discusses the JDAPT’s potential to help workers by focusing on work solutions, not medical diagnoses and symptoms.
Published: March 21, 2023
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Unveiling the JDAPT: A new interactive tool to identify work-related support strategies for workers with chronic conditions and disability
Many workers with chronic physical and mental health conditions struggle when deciding whether to seek support from their workplace. The Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) is designed to help address the complexity of disclosure decisions. Developed as part of a large research partnership, the JDAPT is an online, interactive tool that guides users through a series of simple questions about their job demands, job tasks and working conditions. In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac describes the JDAPT tool, its development, as well as data from two studies on the tool. She discusses the JDAPT’s potential to help workers by focusing on work solutions, not medical diagnoses and symptoms.
Published: March 2023
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IWH in the media
Accommodation tools aims to bridge gaps between workers and employers
An article by Shane Mercer covering an interview with Monique Gignac about the newly released Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) tool for workers, and the soon-to-be-released version of the tool for employers.
Published: Canadian Occupation Safety, March 2023
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IWH in the media
Tool to help workers with chronic and episodic health conditions
Shane Mercer reports on the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) ahead of it's March 21 launch date, including quotes from Monique Gignac describing the tool.
Published: Canadian Occupation Safety, March 2023
News release
News release
New IWH tool helps workers with chronic conditions find job-tailored supports that allow them to keep working
Published: March 2023
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Tools and guides
Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT)
This tool identifies job demands that are difficult for a worker with a chronic, potentially episodic, health condition and suggests personalized accommodation ideas tailored to these demands that can help the worker continue to work comfortably, safety and productively.
Published: March 2023
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IWH in the media
How employers can support employees with psoriatic conditions
Sadie Janes reports on research about workers with psoriatic conditions, including Arif Jetha's research, presented at Canadian Arthritis Research Conference.
Published: Benefits Canada, February 2023
Journal article
Journal article
Experiential aspects of employment and their relationship with work outcomes: a cross-sectional study using a novel measure of participation in workers with and without physical disabilities
Published: Disability and Health Journal, February 2023
Journal article
Journal article
How does job insecurity and workplace activity limitations relate to rheumatic disease symptom trajectories in young adulthood? A longitudinal study
Published: Arthritis Care & Research, January 2023
Journal article
Journal article
2021 EULAR points to consider to support people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases to participate in healthy and sustainable paid work
Published: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, January 2023
Journal article
Journal article
A sensibility assessment of the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT): a tool to help workers with an episodic disability plan workplace support
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, January 2023