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Project 3: Worksite Vocational Rehabilitation Intervention to Improve Employment Outcomes for Persons With Arthritis?
Project Summary
Arthritis is the leading cause of work-related disability. Consequently, many people with arthritis often are not able to keep long-term, competitive jobs. This results in loss of income and affects physical health and psychological well being.
Vocational rehabilitation programs and technological devices used at the workplace have been shown to dramatically improve employment outcomes for people with arthritis by facilitating their work.
This project seeks to determine what people with arthritis can do to improve their chances for retaining jobs and decreasing the effects of arthritis work-related problems. Specifically, researchers will measure the effects of worksite assessment through educational materials or an on-site work evaluation by an occupational therapist on a person’s job satisfaction, capacity to perform work duties, income, health status, and psychological well-being. The two groups involved in the research will either receive educational information or on-site work visits. The scope of the information will either be through educational materials to develop strategies to compensate or one-to-one contact and an individualized work plan. The strategies will include recommendations for work behaviors, ergonomic and body mechanics considerations, and modifications for job tasks, equipment, and space.
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