Abstract
BackgroundHuman resources management plays an important role in social development and economic growth. Absence from work due to health problems can make obstacles to the growth of economy. This study conducted aimed to estimate the absenteeism costs of COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between February 19, 2020, and September 21, 2020. The absenteeism costs were calculated using the human capital approach. Finally, we applied the linear regression to assess the impact of variables on the lost productivity of absenteeism due to COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.ResultsThe results of this study showed that 1958 personnel had COVID-19. The total of absenteeism days in our study were 32,209 days, with an average of 16.44 absenteeism days. Total costs due to absenteeism were estimated to be nearly $1.3 million, with an average of $671.4 per patient. The results of regression model showed that gender (male), age (> 50 years), employment Type (non-permanent) and monthly income had a positive relationship with the absenteeism cost. Also, there are a negative significant relationship between absenteeism cost with job (physicians) and work experience.ConclusionsAbsenteeism costs of COVID-19 in the hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences represent a significant economic burden. The findings of our study emphasize the emergency strategies to prevent and control COVID-19 among the healthcare workers. It can decrease the economic impacts of COVID-19 and improve human resources management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
In December 2019, a few pneumonia cases with unknown etiology were first reported in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China [1]
The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) counts as the third outbreak caused by the coronavirus in the recent decades after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 [4, 5]
This study was designed to estimate the lost productivity cost of absenteeism due to COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) in Mashhad, Iran
Summary
In December 2019, a few pneumonia cases with unknown etiology were first reported in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China [1]. It was discovered that the pathogen of this pneumonia belonged to the coronavirus family, and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially named it COVID-19 on February 11, 2020 [2, 3]. The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) counts as the third outbreak caused by the coronavirus in the recent decades after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 [4, 5]. SARS and MERS were not highly contagious compared to COVID19. While until December 3, 2020, COVID-19 has involved approximately 220 countries and more than 64 million people and has caused the death of about 1.5 million people [7]. Absence from work due to health problems can make obstacles to the growth of economy. This study conducted aimed to estimate the absenteeism costs of COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran
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