Investing in workability of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: results of a pilot project Activ84worK (Activate for work).

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic gastrointestinal conditions mainly affecting young people. Disease symptoms often make it difficult to actively participate in the workplace. The aim of Activ84worK was to stimulate professional activity and reduce absenteeism by removing work-related stress factors and providing patients with more flexible working conditions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Activ84worK was a collaboration between Abbvie, Mensura, Proximus, SD Worx, and University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven) with the support of the patient association 'Crohn-en Colitis Ulcerosa Vereniging (CCV vzw)' in Flanders, Belgium. Since March 2015, IBD patients whose employer was also willing to participate, were recruited. Informed consent was signed and both the employee and the employer were followed for 6 months.

RESULTS: Between March 2015 and October 2016, 70 patients showed interest in the Activ84worK program, 18 were eligible to participate, and 14 completed the program (29% male, 29% private companies). The case studies, based on interviews conducted with participating employees, indicated that removing work-related stress factors resulted in employees feeling much more at ease. Concretely, this led to absence of sick leave for more than 50% of the included patients. A higher degree of workability and focus of employees was achieved, and a decrease in costs of absenteeism was associated with this.

CONCLUSION: This pilot project shows that teleworking and flexible working conditions improve labor participation of IBD patients. The results of this project are now used to inspire policy-makers and employers. This initiative should be extended to a larger cohort and tested in other chronic diseases.