Have you or your loved ones been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis?

You may be eligible to participate in a ankylosing spondylitis clinical trial.

Have you or your loved ones been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis? You may be eligible to participate in a ankylosing spondylitis clinical trial.

What is a clinical trial? Is participating in a clinical trial right for you? Learn more

Ankylosing Spondylitis Clinical Trial in Richmond British Columbia

NCT01852851 | Interventional

Have you or your loved ones been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis?

You may be eligible to participate in a ankylosing spondylitis clinical trial.

Have you or your loved ones been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis? You may be eligible to participate in a ankylosing spondylitis clinical trial.

Active not recruiting

Male & Female

18 - 59

Years old

This study has recruited 528 Participants

The investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of an on-line eLearning program (entitled Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work) designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. The program also includes assessments with 1) an occupational therapist, and 2) a vocational rehabilitation counsellor at the end of the program to help participants identify and obtain necessary changes at work. People from three provinces will be recruited from collaborators' patient and program recipient lists. The study group will receive the program intervention and the control group will receive "usual care" and printed educational material. All participants will be followed for five years. The effectiveness of the program at improving at work productivity and reducing work cessation will be evaluated compared to a control group receiving printed material on employment and arthritis.

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Details for the study

Brief Title

Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work

Official Title

Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an On-line Program to Help People With Inflammatory Arthritis Remain Employed

Brief Summary

The investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of an on-line eLearning program (entitled Employment and Arthritis: Making it Work) designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. The program also includes assessments with 1) an occupational therapist, and 2) a vocational rehabilitation counsellor at the end of the program to help participants identify and obtain necessary changes at work. People from three provinces will be recruited from collaborators' patient and program recipient lists. The study group will receive the program intervention and the control group will receive "usual care" and printed educational material. All participants will be followed for five years. The effectiveness of the program at improving at work productivity and reducing work cessation will be evaluated compared to a control group receiving printed material on employment and arthritis.

Treatments and/or Procedures

Employment and arthritis making it work

A ten week on-line eLearning program designed to help people with inflammatory arthritis stay employed. The program consists of 1) 5 interactive web-based eLearning modules that participants will complete individually in between the weekly group sessions, 2) 5 weekly group sessions conducted as virtual real-time web-based group meetings led by a trained facilitator, 3) asynchronous communications such as a message board to facilitate additional interactions among participants, 4) consultations with an occupational therapist (in-person)for an ergonomic assessment, and a vocational rehabilitation counsellor (on-line consultation using web technology) for job retention vocational counselling.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.

Primary

Cost effectiveness analysis of at work productivity

Primary outcome for cost effectiveness analysis of at work productivity will be measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)

2 years post intervention

Primary

Efficacy analysis of work cessation

Primary outcome for efficacy analysis of work cessation is time to complete work cessation, defined as complete cessation of work due to any reason, for at least six months.

Over 5 years of follow up

Primary

Efficacy analysis of at work productivity

Primary outcome for efficacy analysis of at-work productivity will be measured using the Work Instability Scale (WIS)

2 years post intervention

Secondary

Reduction in usual amount of time worked

Reduction in hours per week worked per year, measured by self report

Up to 5 years

Secondary

Cost utility analysis of at work productivity

Outcome for cost utility analysis of at work productivity will be quality adjusted life year (QALY) measured using EQ-5D.

2 years post intervention

Secondary

Cost utility analysis of at work productivity

Outcome for cost utility analysis of at work productivity will be quality adjusted life year (QALY) measured using SF-6D.

2 years post intervention

Secondary

At-work productivity

Evaluating maintenance of effect on at work productivity over 5 years using the Work Instability Scale (WIS)

Up to 5 years

Secondary

Changes in employment risk factors

Changes from baseline in job satisfaction, self-efficacy at work, work-related risk factors for work disability (physical demand, job autonomy, difficulty commuting, self-employment and support from co-workers, employers and family), job accommodations and job type, measured by self report

Up to 5 years

Secondary

At work productivity

New scale being developed and validated to measure at work productivity. Based on a combination of Workplace Activity Limitations Scale (WALS) and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ).

Up to 5 years

Secondary

At work productivity

Evaluating maintenance of effect on at work productivity over 5 years using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)

Up to 5 years

Secondary

Temporary work cessation

Time to temporary cessation of work for any reason (E.g. sick leave or temporary work disability and short periods of unemployment) for more than 2 months but less than 6 months

Up to 5 years

Secondary

Occasional work absence

Number of days missed from work per year, measured by self report

Up to 5 years

Study Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  -  Between ages 18 and 59 years

  -  Able to read and write English

  -  Have inflammatory arthritis confirmed by a rheumatologist (Rheumatoid Arthritis,
     Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Psoriatic Arthritis, Other
     Connective Tissue Diseases and Spondylarthropathy)

  -  Have access to a computer, a web-cam, a headset and a printer, or willingness to
     purchase these items

  -  Are willing to travel to Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Prince Rupert, Prince George,
     Cranbrook or Kamloops, Calgary, Toronto, Newmarket or Brampton for one visit with an
     occupational therapist

Exclusion Criteria:

  -  Individuals who are not working

  -  Individuals on sick leave, short term or long term work disability

  -  Students

  -  People performing unpaid work such as volunteer work or taking care of family

  -  People planning to retire in the next six years

  -  Individuals unable to provide informed consent

  -  Individuals living outside of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario