Having the Conversation About Work With People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

The ability to work is important for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, only 37% of those with mild MS are in work. Across Europe, lost work productivity accounts for a third of the €15 billion total annual cost of MS. Supporting people with MS into employment should be a clinical care priority in order to maximize work productivity, inclusiveness and therapeutic benefit. A guide for healthcare professionals on having conversations about work with people with MS has been developed through the ‘Ready for Work’ project. Work should be considered as a clinical outcome. The focus should be on what patients can do, rather than what they cannot do, at work. Effective communication is fundamental in supporting patients’ return to work.

Keywords: :

• economics
• multiple sclerosis
• work
• workability

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing assistance was provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain), with funding from Almirall SA (Barcelona, Spain).