The research behind Making it Work program has been developed and tested as part of a large scientific research study. Learn more about the research behind the Making it WorkTM program below, or here on the Arthritis Research Canada website. The Arthritis Research Canada website includes many more resources, including ergonomic resources, and videos.
If you would like to join our program, please click the link beside to contact us.
Why was Making it Work developed?
- Arthritis, with the pain, fatigue and physical limitations that come along with it, often makes it difficult for people to perform their job
- Arthritis is the most common health reason why Canadians have to stop working
- Work disability has a major impact on people’s quality of life and is responsible for high costs to those affected, including their families and society
- Few services are available to people with arthritis to address employment issues
- People told us this was an important unmet need for them
How was MiW developed?
- MiW is the result of more than a decade of scientific research by Dr Lacaille and her research team. It was rigorously developed using scientific methods and with extensive input from a panel of experts, including people living and working with arthritis, and includes evidence-based strategies.
- It has been scientifically tested and shown to be effective at preventing work loss and helping people remain productive at work. In the two years following the program, people who participated in the program missed 22 fewer workdays, were 30% less likely to experience long interruptions at work, and reported more confident about dealing with challenges at work. Most remarkably, 94% of people who took our program said they would recommend it to someone they know.
- For more info about what it’s like to take part in the Making it WorkTM program, we provide an Educational Series including a webinar, videos and educational resources that are free to access on the Arthritis Research Canada Making it Work Education Series page here.
Our Major Publications
Luquini A, Xie H, Zhang W, Gignac M, Lacaille D. POS0032 Targets that work: identifying modifiable predictors of presenteeism over one year in workers with inflammatory arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2023 Jun 1;82:223-4.
Luquini A, Zheng Y, Xie H, Backman C, Rogers P, Kwok A, Knight A, Gignac M, Mosher D, Li L, Esdaile J. OP0010 effectiveness of the making it WORK™ program at improving presenteeism and work cessation in workers with inflammatory arthritis–results of a randomized controlled trial. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2020 Jun 1;79:7-8.
Carruthers EC, Rogers P, Backman CL, Goldsmith CH, Gignac MA, Marra C, Village J, Li LC, Esdaile JM, Lacaille D. "Employment and arthritis: making it work" a randomized controlled trial evaluating an online program to help people with inflammatory arthritis maintain employment (study protocol). BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2014 Jul 21;14:59. doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-14-59. PMID: 25043631.
Lacaille D, White MA, Rogers PA, Backman CL, Gignac MA, Esdaile JM. A proof‐of‐concept study of the “employment and arthritis: Making it work” program. Arthritis Care & Research. 2008 Nov 15;59(11):1647-55.
Backman CL, Village J, Lacaille D. The ergonomic assessment tool for arthritis: development and pilot testing. Arthritis Care & Research: Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology. 2008 Oct 15;59(10):1495-503.
Lacaille D, White MA, Backman CL, Gignac MA. Problems faced at work due to inflammatory arthritis: new insights gained from understanding patients' perspective. Arthritis Care & Research. 2007 Oct 15;57(7):1269-79.
