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Use of prescribed medication at work in employees with chronic illness

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posted on 2009-06-23, 12:18 authored by Fehmidah MunirFehmidah Munir, Joanna Yarker, Cheryl Haslam
Background: This study examined factors associated with the use of prescribed medication at work. Methods: Questionnaire survey of employees with diagnosed chronic illnesses from four UK organisations. Data was collected on type of chronic illness, health status, health beliefs, work limitations, occupational health support, GP and line manager support. Data was analysed using Univariate logistic regression. Results: 1474 employees with chronic illness participated. Medication use at work (yes v no) was predicted by age, pain, diagnosis of heart disease, medication use at home, benefit of prescribed medication to health, ease of using medication at work, practical support from families and practical and emotional support from GP and line manager. In a multivariate logistic regression model, medication use at work was predicted by medication use at home and ease of using medication at work only. Conclusions: The ease of taking medication at work was found to be a key predictor of medication use at work, suggesting occupational health may play a vital role in findings ways to support employees in their usage of medication. This may be for example by providing help and guidance in storing medication at work and encouraging employees to disclose medication use to employers and managers where necessary. Occupational health services can help create a workplace culture that places a high value on health, educating staff on the value of looking after their health and the benefits of following advice.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Citation

MUNIR, F., YARKER, J. and HASLAM, C., 2007. Use of prescribed medication at work in employees with chronic illness. Occupational Medicine, 57 (7), pp. 480-487.

Publisher

© Oxford University Press

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2007

Notes

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Occupational Medicine following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/vol57/issue7/index.dtl

ISSN

0962-7480

Language

  • en

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