Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the multifaceted ways in which inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) negatively affects working life and studies.

Material and methods

IBD patients were identified by diagnosis codes from the hospital records of a Finnish University Hospital. Patients were sent questionnaires via mail and text messages. Respondents, being 561 patients, formed the sample. Hospital records and data of medications were combined to questionnaire data.

Results

Over a fifth of the patients reported having to change their job due to IBD, whereas a third of the sample had to modify their work due to IBD. On average, they had changed jobs once. Most common modifications were to do fewer hours or work during different hours, decreasing the physical burden of their work and moving their workplace closer to a toilet. Around a fifth of the sample' studies were negatively influenced by IBD. Interestingly, clinical parameters or sex did not affect the probability of job modifications, changes or negative effects on studies.

Conclusions

IBD has a considerable negative impact on many patients' studies and working life that extends beyond commonly studied absenteeism and presenteeism.