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
![A young woman sits in front of the desk of an older man in a suit and tie, both smiling](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/intern_young_mentor.jpg?h=9ebb3e29&itok=heG3ApP3)
At Work article
Supported job placements help young adults with disabilities find work: review
Job placements, offered in tandem with a suite of tailored employment supports, can help young people with disabilities make the transition into the labour force, according to an IWH systematic review.
Published: February 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Retirement expectations of older workers with arthritis and diabetes compared with those of workers with no chronic diseases
Published: Canadian Journal on Aging, February 2019
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IWH in the media
Despite ban, asbestos lingers and takes a toll decades later
Because decades might pass before a person exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma, asbestosis or the other related diseases, health professionals believe the number and costs of asbestos-related cancers and disease will continue to rise, writes Monique Keiran in a column that cites Institute research.
Published: Times Colonist, January 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Work-focused interventions that promote the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions: a systematic review
Published: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, January 2019
![Male worker removing carpet](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/carpet_layer_osteoarthritis_2019.jpg?h=e93a7206&itok=dQyTdiKv)
Impact case study
IWH review findings add consistency to osteoarthritis-related advice offered by WorkSafeBC medical advisors
The findings of an Institute for Work & Health systematic review on the association between osteoarthritis and work are being used by WorkSafeBC's medical advisors, contributing to more consistency in claims adjudication.
Published: January 2019
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Promoting labour market transitions for young adults with chronic disabling conditions: a systematic review
Young adulthood is an important phase of life when most people establish their careers. And yet, it's a time when many young adults with disabling health conditions find themselves excluded from the labour market. A systematic review led by Dr. Arif Jetha examined work-focused interventions to support the transition of these young adults into the labour market. In this presentation, he shares findings and highlights the effectiveness of these interventions across different career stages and disability types.
Published: November 2018
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IWH in the media
Longer hours linked to diabetes risk in women: Study
Women who work more than 45 hours per week face a 63 per cent greater risk of developing diabetes than women who work fewer hours, but the incidence of diabetes tends to go down for men who work longer hours. Marcel Vander Wier reports on a study by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
Published: Canadian HR Reporter, November 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Association between dimensions of the psychosocial and physical work environment and latent smoking trajectories: a 16-year cohort study of the Canadian workforce
Published: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, October 2018
![Workers Health & Safety Centre logo](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/whsc_logo.png?h=d3f7dee9&itok=vxvq_cGp)
IWH in the media
Work-related stressors impact women and men differently, research finds
Exposure to psychosocial hazards at work adds to the growing health burden stress places upon both women and men, according to recently published Canadian research. Researchers from Institute for Work and Health found women reported lower job control, higher job strain (low job control combined with high job demands) and higher co-worker support compared with men. Women and men were found to have similar levels of job insecurity and supervisor support.
Published: Workers Health & Safety Centre, August 2018
![A young woman rests her head in her palm, eyes closed](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/young_woman_pain_fatigue.jpg?h=31c7121d&itok=3-aEutnT)
Research Highlights
How workplace support needs differ for younger and older adults with chronic disease
When it comes to workplace supports, people with chronic disease have similar needs, even at different ages and career stages. However, young people face unique challenges related to accessing workplace supports, including a lack of available workplace resources and difficulty overcoming preconceptions around youth and chronic conditions.
Published: August 2018