Barriers to and facilitators of employment among Americans with multiple sclerosis: results of a qualitative focus group study

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are known to face a multitude of challenges in the workplace and when seeking employment. Less has been written, however, about the subjective experiences of people with MS regarding their workforce participation. This study used phone-administered focus groups to investigate work-related experiences of a national sample of individuals with MS. Using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach, the researchers derived a set of three core themes, each with subordinate sub-themes. The three core themes were: (a) facing future uncertainty, (b) feeling a sense of loss, and (c) navigating the workplace. Findings are discussed within the context of existing literature.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease characterized by cycles of relapses and remissions, although some people experience a steadily progressive course marked by a gradual decline in [...]