Jesús Marrero Centeno, Ivonne Moreno Velásquez, Israel Sánchez Cardona
This qualitative exploratory research seeks to examine the experience of fibromyalgia in the work context and how it affects the performance of people diagnosed with this disease. The authors use the Demands and Labor Resources Model to understand how resources (work and personal) and demands affect the effectiveness of people with fibromyalgia at work. Seven patients with fibromyalgia living in Puerto Rico participated in semi-structured interviews. The results show that fibromyalgia has a negative effect on the performance of the participants' tasks, especially if they require physical effort or continuity in the same posture for long periods. Also, the work environment could affect the symptomatology of the disease and how it affects their performances. Finally, the authors present a series of recommendations framed in flexibility, personal resources and education, seeking to minimize the effects that fibromyalgia has on the job.
Esta investigación cualitativa exploratoria pretende examinar la experiencia de la fibromialgia en el ámbito laboral y cómo la misma incide en el desempeño de las personas. Utilizamos el Modelo de Demandas y Recursos Laborales para entender cómo los recursos (laborales y personales) y las demandas afectan la efectividad en el trabajo de las personas con fibromialgia. Siete pacientes con fibromialgia residentes en Puerto Rico participaron en entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los resultados apuntan que la fibromialgia tiene un efecto negativo en el desempeño de tareas, principalmente si estas requieren de esfuerzo físico o continuidad en una misma postura por largos periodos. Además, el ambiente laboral incide en la sintomatología y está a su vez en el desempeño de las funciones. Por último, se presentan una serie de recomendaciones enmarcadas en la flexibilidad, recursos personales y la educación, las cuales buscan minimizar los efectos que tiene la fibromialgia en el trabajo.Resumen alternativo:This qualitative exploratory research seeks to examine the experience of fibromyalgia in the work context and how it affects the performance of people diagnosed with this disease. The authors use the Demands and Labor Resources Model to understand how resources (work and personal) and demands affect the effectiveness of people with fibromyalgia at work. Seven patients with fibromyalgia living in Puerto Rico participated in semi-structured interviews. The results show that fibromyalgia has a negative effect on the performance of the participants' tasks, especially if they require physical effort or continuity in the same posture for long periods. Also, the work environment could affect the symptomatology of the disease and how it affects their performances. Finally, the authors present a series of recommendations framed in flexibility, personal resources and education, seeking to minimize the effects that fibromyalgia has on the job.