Arthritis and self-employment: Strategies for success from the self-employment literature and from the experiences of people with arthritis

This qualitative analysis identifies factors that individuals with arthritis should take into consideration prior to pursuing self-employment (SE). Subjects were recruited from a database of all patients who had used the services of a provincial, out-patient arthritis treatment program between January 1999 and December 2000. Letters screening for SE experience were sent to 4414 individuals. Of the 1695 (38%) individuals who responded, 442 (26%) reported current or previous SE experience and 247/442 (56%) agreed to participate and completed a mailed survey. Three open-ended questions asked respondents what advice they would give to someone with arthritis who was considering SE, and to provide their general thoughts on SE as an option for people with arthritis. Respondents provided a range of practical advice on determining the suitability of SE, choosing the type of SE in which to become engaged, and potential strategies for success. Advice for improving the chance of business success included the importance of formal and informal support, self care, maintaining close contact with one's medical team, pacing, and finally, planning the business.