The new study will investigate the experiences of work support for people with musculoskeletal conditions.
Making it Work™ is an online self-management programme developed in Canada which supports people working with inflammatory arthritis. Researchers at the University of Aberdeen are now conducting research to develop this existing programme to cover a wider remit, including:
- Covering a broader range of musculoskeletal conditions (such as osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis or fibromyalgia).
- Adapting the programme to fit the UK health and social care context.
- Making sure the programme is fit for ‘modern’ working patterns (e.g. zero-hours contracts, ‘gig economy’ jobs, etc.) and changes to work brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team is now conducting a series of focus groups with patients, employers, and healthcare providers to get their feedback on the current programme, and the changes that may need to be made to adapt Making it Work™ for a new, broader context.
Speaking about the importance of this research, Making it Work™ - Scotland Co-Investigator Dr Elaine Wainwright said:
“We want to listen to the voices of people with lived experience of different musculoskeletal conditions, as well as healthcare professionals, employers and other key stakeholders, so we can understand their views on this critical topic. By doing this well, incorporating a variety of viewpoints, we can help support people living with different inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions to have sustainable working lives.”
You can read more about the study, including how you can get involved, on the University of Aberdeen Epidemiology Group website.