Robyn Panther Gleason, ARNP, MSN, College of Nursing, University of Florida, P. O. Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610-0197, 352-273-6410, rgleason@nursing.ufl.edu

Chronic illnesses and their complications are a major health problem in the US. While quantitative studies have found that grade of employment is inversely related to rates of hypertension, diabetes and respiratory illness and resultant disability, little is known about the effects of employment on persons living with chronic illness. A significant gap in knowledge exists, as no qualitative studies specifically addressing employment as it affects chronic disease self-management were found in an extensive literature search. As primary providers of client training in disease self-management, nurses play a decisive role in the prevention of complications of chronic disease; a better understanding of the effects of employment on chronic illness self-management could lead to improved nursing interventions for chronic illness self-management. Therefore, this study, to be completed in late summer 2004, will examine how full-time employment impacts illness self-management in workers with chronic disease. Continuing chronic disease self-management research by the principal investigator will be based on the results of this study. The study will be conducted utilizing a collective (multiple) case study design. A purposive sample of three workers (one with each of the following chronic diseases: asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) will drawn from clients of the principal investigator. Data collection will include interviews, observations, and other sources of information. An embedded analysis of chronic illness self-management experiences in the workplace will be conducted using within-case and cross-case analysis. The theoretical framework for the study is complex adaptive systems theory.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Identify two possible barriers to chronic disease self-management in the workplace.
• Discuss one common experience of case study participants attempting to self-manage chronic illness in the workplace.

Keywords: Chronic Illness, Adherence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.