Type of Project: Funded project
Determinants of work participation in multiple sclerosis (TAMuS)

In Germany, it is estimated that more than 200,000 patients are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating autoimmune disease. Numerous studies have shown that the proportion of working MS patients is around 36%. Due to the great variability and the difficult-to-predict course of MS, there are numerous influencing factors that have a negative impact on the ability to work of those affected and can lead to early retirement from working life. Knowledge of these influencing factors is essential in order to be able to both derive and provide suitable interventions. The aim of the project is to identify objective factors for the retention of employment in MS patients over an observation period of two years (Part I) and to additionally investigate subjective and job-specific factors that affect retention in employment over an observation period of one year (Part II). The project uses various data sources: In the first part of the study, register data from the MS Register Germany will be analyzed. In the second part of the study, a multicenter longitudinal study will be conducted. MS patients will be interviewed in writing/online at two measurement points (end of rehabilitation & 12 months after the end of rehabilitation). The knowledge gained from the project serves to improve the chances of MS patients to participate in working life. These findings can provide a perspective for design options and a framework for assessing the effectiveness of medically and vocationally oriented rehabilitation services. Furthermore, the conditions and problems in the workplace of working MS patients will be analyzed in order to identify future adaptation options. TAMuS ended on November 30th, 2023, and had been extended cost-neutrally until December, 31st, 2024.