Impact of Working From Home on the Psychological Well-Being of 365 European Patients With Rheumatic Diseases During COVID-19 Pandemic. Results of the REUMAVID Study.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of home working on the psychological well-being of European patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: REUMAVID is a cross-sectional study that collected data through an online survey in seven European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: Phase 1 (April-July 2020) and Phase 2 (February-April 2021). This analysis evaluated the impact of homeworking during Phase 2 (2021). Pearson's Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to explore possible associations between homeworking and psychological well-being (including anxiety and depression). Binary logistic regression was used to analyse factors associated with poor psychological well-being.

Results: Of the 365 patients included in the analysis, 39.9% were working from home, of whom only 37.4% reported having a dedicated home office space. Patients with poorer psychological well-being more frequently gave lower ratings for their computer, workplace, light, noise, calmness, and temperature at the home workspace. In the multivariable logistic regression, the factor most associated with poorer psychological well-being was the lack of a calm workspace.

Conclusion: More than one-third of patients with RMDs worked from home during the pandemic. The lack of a calm and dedicated workspace was significantly associated with poor psychological well-being. Given the growing prevalence of remote work, understanding the conditions under which RMD patients work from home is critical. Rheumatologists should be aware that inadequate home working environments may negatively affect patients' mental health and consider this when advising on work arrangements.