Chronic Wounds and Employment: Assessing Occupation-Related Burden of Patients With Chronic Wounds—Results of a Pilot Study

Busch D, Methner N, Azodanlou D, Moelleken M, Dissemond J, Huebner UH, Przysucha M, Kücking F, Berking C, Erfurt-Berge C (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

International Wound Journal Wiley

Book Volume: 22

Article Number: e70372

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1111/iwj.70372

Abstract

Chronic wounds can impact the quality of life of working-age individuals. However, the specific challenges and burdens these patients face in the workplace remain understudied. This study aimed to 1) investigate how chronic wounds affect work life and 2) develop a screening tool for identifying highly affected patients. In total, 51 patients with chronic wounds answered a questionnaire on demographics, employment status, wound-related limitations, workplace conditions, social welfare use and subjective burden of disease. To assess the subjective burden, we developed a specific research tool on employment and chronic wounds (REACH Score) to measure and quantify the impact of the chronic wound on working patients. The patients, who answered the questionnaire, were employed (78%), on sick leave (18%) or retired (4%). They spent an average of 5.3 h per week on wound-related activities. Regarding workplace stressors, we found that taking breaks when needed was correlated with less time off sick and better work-related quality of life. Patients reported career concerns and reduced productivity. The REACH score was significantly correlated with sick leave, work difficulties, time consumed by the wound and overall quality of life. According to our pilot-study, the impact of chronic wounds on patients of working age is most evident in the form of sick leave and reduced work performance and in a reduced quality of life. It is crucial to identify the key factors contributing to stress in the work environment in a larger sample in order to improve the working conditions of patients and detrimental socioeconomic effects on the workforce. The REACH score is a novel tool to screen employed patients with chronic wounds for reduced work capacity and quality of life.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dorothee Busch Department of Dermatology Nicole Methner Lehrstuhl für Sozialpsychologie mit Schwerpunkt Gender und Diversity Delara Azodanlou Medizinische Fakultät Carola Berking Lehrstuhl für Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten Cornelia Erfurt-Berge Department of Dermatology

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Essen DE Germany (DE) Hochschule Osnabrück DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Busch, D., Methner, N., Azodanlou, D., Moelleken, M., Dissemond, J., Huebner, U.H.,... Erfurt-Berge, C. (2025). Chronic Wounds and Employment: Assessing Occupation-Related Burden of Patients With Chronic Wounds—Results of a Pilot Study. International Wound Journal, 22(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.70372

MLA:

Busch, Dorothee, et al. "Chronic Wounds and Employment: Assessing Occupation-Related Burden of Patients With Chronic Wounds—Results of a Pilot Study." International Wound Journal 22.4 (2025).

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