ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of patients with epilepsy have difficulty finding employment. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the employment situation and driving license of patients with symptomatic or probably symptomatic focal epilepsy and correlate it with clinical and socio-demographic aspects. METHODS: Ninety-two patients were classified into 3 groups: "employed", "unemployed" and "retired/on leave". The relationship between employment and socio-demographic aspects and those of epilepsy was studied, and also whether the patients were holders of national driving licenses. RESULTS: Thirty-one (33.7 percent) of the patients were employed, 19 (20.7 percent) unemployed and 33 (35.9 percent) retired/on leave. Patients with formal education of less than 9 years predominated (p<0.05) in the "retired/on leave" group and non-white patients were more frequently unemployed. Of 58 patients who lost their jobs, 27 (46.6 percent) reported that epilepsy was the main reason (p<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the occurrence of ES at work and unemployment and "leave/retirement" (p<0.05). There was no relationship between clinical aspects and the employment situation. Nineteen (33.9 percent) of the 56 surveyed reported being holders of driving licenses. DISCUSSION: There was a high index of unemployment and retired/on leave individuals. There was a relationship between unemployment and the occurrence of ES at work and with a low scholastic level. CONCLUSION: The low scholastic level/professional qualifications and the stigma aggravated the employment perspectives of these individuals, contributing to their social exclusion.
INTRODUÇÃO: Estima-se que aproximadamente 50 por cento dos pacientes com epilepsia têm problemas para encontrar emprego. OBJETIVO: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a situação laboral e a licença para dirigir de 92 pacientes com epilepsia focal sintomática ou provavelmente sintomática e, correlaciona-la a aspectos clínicos e sociodemográficos. RESULTADOS: 31 (33,7 por cento) pacientes estavam empregados, 19 (20,7 por cento) desempregados, 33 (35,9 por cento) afastados/aposentados. Os pacientes com maior escolaridade formal, da cor branca, e do gênero masculino estavam mais empregados (ANOVA; p<0,05). 30 (46,1 por cento) pacientes referiram que a epilepsia motivou a demissão. Houve relação significativa entre ocorrência de CE no trabalho com desemprego e afastamento/aposentadoria (χ2; p=0,03). Não houve relação entre aspectos clínicos da epilepsia e situação ocupacional. DISCUSSÃO: Foram observados índices elevados de desemprego e afastamentos/aposentadoria. Houve relação entre desemprego e ocorrência de CE no trabalho, e baixa escolaridade e qualificação profissional. CONCLUSÃO: A baixa escolaridade/qualificação profissional e o estigma agravaram a perspectiva de empregabilidade dos indivíduos, contribuindo para a exclusão social.