A cross-sectional analysis of work-related outcomes in adults with asthma

Background: Asthma is a disease with physical symptoms that can impair a person's functioning to the point of interfering with school, work, and social activities. Objective: Describe how disease (asthma) and patient characteristics affect perceived work performance and absenteeism. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, 369 adults with asthma from a managed care organization responded to a mailed questionnaire which included a perceived work performance scale (WPS) and an item assessing absenteeism. Analysis consisted of psychometric testing of the scale (internal consistency and construct validity); trend observation of influence of perceived and symptom-derived severity on WPS and absenteeism distribution; and regression analysis to examine the relationship between patient/disease characteristics and the work-related outcomes. Results: The mean WPS score was 88.0 +/- 16.2 (of a possible 100), with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.79. Most respondents (84.7%) did not miss any work in the previous 4 weeks. WPS scores declined and the percentage of respondent absenteeism increased as perceived and symptom-derived severity worsened. The regression model for WPS produced an adjusted R-2 of 0.32 and included the number of other illnesses, health beliefs, race, income, and perceived and symptom-derived asthma severity. The regression model for absenteeism included number of other illnesses, race, health beliefs, and symptom-derived severity. Perceived work performance and absenteeism are outcomes measures that are distinctive and complementary. Conclusions: Disease severity, race, income, and health beliefs also contribute and should be considered in health services research related to asthma.