Functional and work outcomes improve in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who receive targeted, comprehensive occupational therapy.

Objective: Work disability is a serious consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We conducted a 6-month, prospective randomized controlled trial comparing assessments of function, work, coping, and disease activity in employed patients with RA receiving occupational therapy intervention versus usual care.

Methods: Employed patients with RA with increased perceived work disability risk were identified by the RA Work Instability Scale (WIS; score >or=10).