Working conditions and family situation in relation to functional gastrointestinal disorders. The Swedish Dyspepsia Project.

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Abstract
Objective-To examine whether improvement and/or deterioration of functional gastrointestinal symptoms relate to psychosocial factors, and whether patients with such symptoms have special characteristics with regard to working environment in comparison to a referent population. Design-Multicentre, prospective study of consecutive patients seeking medical advice at health centres for gastrointestinal symptoms. Setting-Several municipalities in Sweden: Vänersborg, Trollhättan, Tibro, Alfta, Borensberg, Malmo, Kungalv, Hudiksvall, Vadstena, and Sandviken. Participants-615 patients, aged 18–81 years, who after medical examination, upper endoscopy and laboratory test were defined as having functional gastrointestinal disorders. Main outcome measures-Initial characteristics and response to treatment according to a 5-graded symptom score as obtained from a psychosocial questionnaire collected during and at the end of a four-week treatment period. Results-Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders differed from a referent population of actively employed women and men in the county of Stockholm. They felt less possibility to influence their working conditions. Shift workers were also overrepresented. Psychosocial background factors had an effect on improvement of symptoms during four weeks of treatment There were some differences between men and women. For women, working hours and home circumstances were important. After four weeks women who worked part-time felt better than those who worked full-time. Married women made a better recovery than single women. For men, working conditions had a greater effect on recovery. Those who felt that they received support from their colleagues at work improved to a greater extent than the other men.