‘Stuck in catch-22’: a qualitative study of perceived work ability and decision-making about employment in severe asthma

Background: Severe asthma (SA) is characterised by persistent asthma symptomatology despite adherence to intensive treatment and control of asthma triggers. It is estimated that approximately 50% of individuals with SA have current employment, considerably less than rates in the general population. Poor physical and mental health status have been suggested as a potential explanation for this, but the relationship has not been investigated in depth. We investigated how bio-psycho-social and cultural factors influence work ability and employment in SA patients.
Methods: Participants were recruited from the Birmingham Regional NHS Severe Asthma Service via opportunity sampling, with the exclusion criteria being individuals who had never been employed, currently in full-time education, or non-English speakers. Subsequently, men and those with minority-ethnic backgrounds were purposefully selected to gain a balanced sample. Interviews were performed either face-to-face, online or via telephone, transcribed using software and edited manually. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
Results: The study included 12 participants (9 females and 3 males). Four major themes were constructed: impact of patients’ asthma control on work, psychological burden of living with SA, costs and benefits of being in employment, and adaptations and strategies for remaining in employment.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential for physical, occupational, psychological, and social support to address the diverse job-related difficulties experienced by people with SA. Additionally, national policy reforms should be considered to improve work capacity and promote employment opportunities.