Sickness Absence Episodes Research Articles

Multicentre validation of frequent sickness absence predictions.

A prediction model including age, self-rated health (SRH) and prior sickness absence (SA) has previously been found to predict frequent SA. To further validate the model and develop it for clinical use. A multicentre study of care of the elderly workers employed at one of 14 centres in Aarhus (Denmark). SA episodes recorded in the year prior to baseline and both age and SRH at baseline were included in a prediction model for frequent (three or more) SA episodes during a 1-year follow-up period. The prediction model was developed in the largest centre. Risk predictions and discrimination between high- and low-risk workers were investigated in the other centres. The prediction rule 'SRH-prior SA' was derived from the prediction model and prognostic properties of the prediction rule were investigated for each centre, using score <0 as cut-off. Of 2562 workers, 1930 had complete data for analysis. Predictions were accurate in 4 of 13 centres; discrimination was good in five and fair in another five centres. Prediction rule scores <0 identified workers at risk of frequent SA with sensitivities of 0.17-0.54, specificities of 0.86-0.96 and positive predictive values of 0.54-0.87 across centres. The prediction model discriminated between workers at high and low risk of frequent SA in the majority of centres. The prediction rule 'SRH-prior SA' can be used in clinical practice specifically to identify workers at high risk of frequent SA.

Non work-related sickness absence in 2013 in a Spanish banking sector company

To describe the incidence and duration of episodes of non work-related temporary sickness absence (SA) between January and December of 2013, by diagnostic groups, in a banking sector company. Cross-sectional study of 3.193 episodes of SA (≥ day), excluding work-related injuries and illnesses. The distribution of the duration of SA episodes by medical diagnosis was analyzed by calculating the median duration, 25th and 75th percentiles, mean and standard deviation. The median duration of SA was 9 days for cases where there was a medical diagnosis (n=2.931, 91.8%); the 25th and 75th percentiles were 4 and 32 days, respectively. The most frequent pathologies were respiratory (19.9%), followed by musculoskeletal (19.1%) and pregnancy-related disorders (17.3%). Neoplasms had the longest median duration (49 days), followed by pregnancy-related disorders (39 days) and psychiatric disorders (23 days). Overall sickness absence incidence in our study population was lower, but had a longer duration, as compared to similar studies. The incidence and duration by diagnostic groups were very similar to that reported in the literature, except for pregnancy-related disorders, where both were clearly higher (incidence 4 to 11 times and duration 0.4 times larger) in our company (<0.001). This analysis is useful from a prevention perspective, and suggests the need to prioritize the study to the control of potential workplace exposures that might be affecting pregnant workers' health.

The impact of poor psychosocial work environment on non-work-related sickness absence

PurposeWe aimed to analyse the impact of psychosocial work environment on non-work-related sickness absence (NWRSA) among a prospective cohort study, stratified using a random sampling technique. MethodsPsychosocial variables were assessed among 15,643 healthy workers using a brief version of the Spanish adaptation of Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. A one year follow-up assessed the total count of NWRSA days. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used for multivariate analyses. ResultsAfter adjusting for covariates, low levels of job control and possibilities for development (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01–1.36 [men]; OR: 1.39 95% CI: 1.09–1.77 [women]), poor social support and quality of leadership (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11–1.50 [men]; OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.01–1.63 [women]), and poor rewards (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.14–1.57 [men]; OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.01–1.66 [women]) predicted a total count of sickness absence greater than zero, in both men and women. Double presence was also significantly associated with NWRSA different than 0, but only among women (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.08–1.81). Analyses found no association between psychosocial risk factors at work and the total count (i.e., number of days) of sickness absences. ConclusionsThe results suggest that work-related psychosocial factors may increase the likelihood of initiating an NWRSA episode, but were not associated with the length of the sickness absence episode. Among our large cohort we observed that some associations were gender-dependent, suggesting that future research should consider gender when designing psychosocial interventions aimed at decreasing sickness absences.

Interaction of Physical Exposures and Occupational Factors on Sickness Absence in Automotive Industry Workers.

Introduction:Increased sickness absence in recent years has been a trouble making issue in industrial society. Identify the causes of sickness absence and its influencing factors, is an important step to control and reduce its associated complications and costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate main factors associated with the incidence of sickness absence.Procedure:In 2012, a cross-sectional study on 758 employees of a car accessories producing company was applied and relevant information about the number of days and episodes of sickness absence, Disease resulting in absence from work, personal features, occupational factors and physical exposures were collected. To determine risk factors associated with sickness absence, Logistic regression analysis was used.Results:The most common diseases leading to sickness absence in order of frequency were Respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and injuries at work. Musculoskeletal disorders increased the danger of long term absence by 4/33 times. Blue collar and shift works were the most important occupational factors associated with the incidence of sickness absence. The main physical factors that affect incidence of sickness absence were frequent bending-twisting and heavy lifting.Conclusion:Identifying controllable factors of sickness absence and trying to prevent and modify them such as compliance of ergonomic principals to decrease physical can be effective in reducing sickness absence.

Risk reclassification analysis investigating the added value of fatigue to sickness absence predictions.

BackgroundPrognostic models including age, self-rated health and prior sickness absence (SA) have been found to predict high (≥30) SA days and high (≥3) SA episodes during 1-year follow-up. More predictors of high SA are needed to improve these SA prognostic models. The purpose of this study was to investigate fatigue as new predictor in SA prognostic models by using risk reclassification methods and measures.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up of 1,137 office workers. Fatigue was measured at baseline with the 20-item checklist individual strength and added to the existing SA prognostic models. SA days and episodes during 1-year follow-up were retrieved from an occupational health service register. The added value of fatigue was investigated with Net Reclassification Index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) measures.ResultsIn total, 579 (51 %) office workers had complete data for analysis. Fatigue was prospectively associated with both high SA days and episodes. The NRI revealed that adding fatigue to the SA days model correctly reclassified workers with high SA days, but incorrectly reclassified workers without high SA days. The IDI indicated no improvement in risk discrimination by the SA days model. Both NRI and IDI showed that the prognostic model predicting high SA episodes did not improve when fatigue was added as predictor variable.ConclusionIn the present study, fatigue increased false-positive rates which may reduce the cost-effectiveness of interventions for preventing SA.

Sickness absence and flight type exposure in flight crew members.

Shift work research has shown that the relationship between exposure to irregular working times and sickness absence may differ between working populations. Not much is known about the prevalence of sickness absence in flight crews or about the relationship between exposure to different flight schedules and sickness absence in this population. To examine the association between cumulative exposure to different flight types and sickness absence in flight crew members. The study population consisted of flight crew members from a 5 year historic cohort. Flight schedule and sickness absence data were obtained from company records. The association between the cumulative exposure to different flight types and sickness absence episodes of >7 days was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Adjusted models were obtained by adding potential confounders. Previous sickness absence was added to compose the fully adjusted models. The records of 8228 employees were analysed. The fully adjusted univariate analyses showed that the numbers of medium-haul flights and flights with time zone crossings were associated with an increase in the odds for sickness absence. The fully adjusted multivariate analyses showed no significant associations between flight types and sickness absence. Cumulative exposure to flight types was not independently associated with sickness absence in flight crew members when previous sickness absence was taken into account. Because sickness absence in the past can predict future absence, preventive strategies targeted at flight crew members with a history of high sickness absence may be effective.

Predictors of sickness absence in pregnancy: a Danish cohort study.

The aim of this cohort study was to investigate associations between parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), assisted reproductive therapy (ART), time to pregnancy (TTP), and engagement in physical exercise and the risk of sickness absence in pregnancy from 10-29 completed pregnancy weeks. Data from 51 874 pregnancies in the Danish National Birth Cohort collected from 1996 until 2002 were linked to the Danish Register for Evaluation of Marginalization. Exposure information was based on questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by Cox regression, using time of first episode of sickness absence as the primary outcome. Multiparity 1.26 (95% CI 1.10-1.45), overweight 1.13 (95% CI 1.08-1.18), obesity 1.23 (95% CI 1.15-1.31), ART 1.10 (95% CI 1.01-1.20), and TTP >12 months 1.06 (95% CI 0.99-1.13) were associated with higher HR of sickness absence. Physical exercise of >120 minutes per week was associated with lower HR 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.95). Risk for sickness absence was higher among women who were multiparous, overweight, obese, received ART, and had prolonged TTP, and lower among women engaged in leisure-time physical exercise. Few studies have investigated these associations, and the results should be confirmed in other studies of pregnant women.

Recovery and recurrence of mental sickness absence among production and office workers in the industrial sector.

Manual workers in the public sector have previously been found to be at risk of mental sickness absence (SA). As the impact of mental illness differs across economic sectors, this study investigated mental SA in the industrial sector, differentiating between office and production workers. Ten-year observational cohort study including 14 369 (8164 production and 6205 office) workers with a total of 101 118 person years. SA data were retrieved from an occupational health register. Mental SA episodes were medically certified as emotional disturbances [10th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 R45)] or mental and behavioural disorders (ICD-10 F00-F99). The first mental SA episode since baseline was called index mental SA. Recurrences were defined as any mental SA episode occurring >28 days after recovery from index mental SA. The incidence of mental SA was higher in production workers than in office workers, but office workers needed longer time to recover from mental SA. Mental SA recurred as frequently in production workers as in office workers. The median time to recurrence was 15.9 months and tangibly shorter in office workers (14.9 months) than in production workers (16.7 months). Production and office workers aged >55 years were at increased risk of recurrent mental SA within 12 months of recovery from index mental SA. The incidence of mental SA was higher in production workers than in office workers, whereas recurrence rates did not differ between them. Occupational health providers should pay special attention to older workers as they are at increased risk of recurrent mental SA.

Self-reported and employer-recorded sickness absence in doctors.

Doctors' sickness absence reduces the quality and continuity of patient care and is financially costly. Doctors have lower rates of sickness absence than other healthcare workers. To compare self-reported with recorded sickness absence in doctors in a UK National Health Service hospital trust. A retrospective questionnaire study. The main outcome measures were self-reported and trust-recorded sickness absence episodes of 4 days or more in two consecutive 6-month periods. The response rate was 82% (607/736). Self-reported sickness absence rates were 1.2% compared with a rate of 0.6% from trust-recorded data. There were 38 matched pairs of self-reported (mean duration: 18 days, standard deviation: 22 days) and trust-recorded (mean duration: 10 days, standard deviation: 17 days) sickness absence episodes of 4 days or more in the 12 months studied. A matched pairs t-test determined that the difference between the two means was significant (t = 2.57, P < 0.05). Doctors' sickness absence was significantly under-recorded in this study population.

Work outcomes of sickness absence related to mental disorders: a systematic literature review

ObjectivesThe purpose of this systematic literature review is to examine the current state of knowledge regarding the return-to-work outcomes of sickness absences related to mental disorders that increase costs borne...

0281 The relationship between socioeconomic position, working conditions and sickness absence in a life-course perspective

ObjectivesSocioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood and in adulthood, and work environment factors are predictors of sickness absence (SA). Our objective was to examine the relationships between these factors in a...

0095 Multimorbidity and previous sickness absence episodes are determinants of incidence and duration of future episodes

ObjectivesWhile sociodemographic and work-related factors are frequently studied as determinants of sickness absence (SA), health-related determinants have surprisingly received little attention. We examined the effect of multimorbidity and previous SA...

Estimating the burden of disease due to permanent disability in Spain during the period 2009-2012

Permanent disability (PD) is a major social and economic burden. The aim of this study was to determine the burden of disease due to PD. Using data from the Continuous Working Life Sample (CWLS) -a random sample consisting of 4% of the active members affiliated to the Social Security (SS) System in Spain (1.1 million members) which data come from administrative registries from the SS- the diagnosis of PD (2009-2012) was established from the information on the temporary sickness absence (TSA) episodes from 2009. The diagnoses were imputed if two criteria were fulfilled: long duration of TSA and short period of time between the TSA episode and PD. The burden of disease was estimated for cases with an established diagnosis of PD by using the potential years of working life lost (PYWLL), estimated as the difference between the legal retirement age (65 years) and the age at the start of a PD. In the CWLS, 163,135 (13.6%9 individuals suffered a TSA episode in 2009, out of which 4,738 were granted a PD pension in the period of 2009-2012. The diagnosis was established for 3,073 (64.9%) cases. A large percentage of PD was produced by musculoskeletal (27.4%) and mental disorders (11.6%), likewise these diagnoses produced more PYWLL due to a PD: 11,086 (26.5%) and 7,052 (16.9%), respectively. Mental disorders produced PD at younger ages (median= 49 years of age). Mental and musculoskeletal disorders represent a major burden of disease produced by PD and measured by PYWLL. The diagnoses of PD should become available in order to estimate with more accuracy the PYWLL produced by PD and specific diagnoses.

0302 Incidence of sickness absence among brazilian public workers

ObjectivesInvestigate the incidence and risk factors of sickness absence (SA) among Brazilian public workers.MethodIt is a dynamic cohort composed by all public workers of the Goiania municipality hired from January,...

Job-related stress and sickness absence among belgian nurses: a prospective study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of job stress on sickness absence of nurses and determine the predictive power of the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) model, the Effort-Reward Imbalance-Overcommitment (ERI-OC) model, and a combination of both. A survey was conducted to measure job stress in a sample of 527 Belgian nurses, followed by prospective data collection of sickness absence (long-term, short-term, and multiple episodes). Perceptions of job strain and ERI increased the odds for long-term (adjusted odds ratio [OR]= 2.26; 99% confidence interval [CI; 1.27-4.04]) and multiple episodes of sickness absence (adjusted OR= 1.64; 95% CI [1.01-2.65]). Iso-strain and ERI-OC increased the odds for long-term (OR= 1.75; 95% CI [0.98-3.11]), multiple episode (adjusted OR= 1.93; 95% CI [1.14-3.26]), and short-term (adjusted OR= 1.69; 95% CI [1.03-2.76]) sickness absence. The combined model of DCS and ERI-OC predicts the odds for long-term and short-term sickness absence and multiple episodes. This study has implications for human resources management in nursing organizations. Nursing administrators are advised to monitor and balance nurses' job demands and efforts. They should recognize the importance of social support, job control, job rewards, and overcommitment in order to reduce the job stress of nurses.

The relation between psychosocial risk factors and cause-specific long-term sickness absence

The aim was to study the impact of psychosocial risk factors on long-term sickness absence due to mental health problems (LSA-MH) or musculoskeletal disorders (LSA-MSD) in 2983 Belgian middle-aged workers. Data were collected from 1372 male and 1611 female workers in the Belstress III study. Considered psychosocial risk factors were job demands, job control, social support, job strain, efforts, rewards, effort-reward imbalance and bullying. Prospective registered sickness absence data were collected during 12 months follow-up; the causes for long-term sickness absence episodes of at least 15 consecutive days were obtained by contacting the general practitioner of the worker. Multiple logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the psychosocial risk factors and LSA-MH and LSA-MSD. Higher levels of rewards at baseline were independently and significantly associated with a lower risk for LSA-MH. Higher levels of control were associated with a lower risk for LSA-MSD during follow-up. Higher job demands and efforts were significantly related to a lower risk for LSA-MSD. Finally, bullying was significantly and independently related to both LSA-MH and LSA-MSD during the follow-up period. These results suggest that psychosocial risk factors are related to LSA-MH and LSA-MSD, of which especially bullying seems to be a potent stressor.

Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain – the struggle within: A qualitative study of the patient's experience

Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of work absence. Assisting individuals back into work is an important part of rehabilitation. To explore the experiences of individuals returning to work after an episode of sickness absence due to LBP. Five women employed by a UK University who had returned to work. In this qualitative study, participants underwent semi-structured interviews about their experiences. The transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Two primary themes emerged 1) perceived pressure to return to work and 2) strategies employed to relieve the pressure to return. Pressure to return to work arose from a number of sources including guilt and a personal work ethic, internally, and from colleagues and management, externally. This pressure led to the individual employing a number of strategies to reduce it. These ranged from a simple denial of health concerns and decision to return to work regardless of their condition, to placing the responsibility of the decision not to return to work onto a significant other, such as a family member or health care professional. Individuals returning to work with LBP experience considerable pressure to return and use a range of strategies to mediate that pressure.

326 Social position and intelligence: which is the more important determinant of sickness absence in a life-course perspective?

ObjectivesSocio-economic position (SEP) and intelligence (IQ) are both predictors of later health, however, the relationships between them have been much debated. Our objective was to examine the separate effects of...

Influence of New Secondary Diagnoses on the Duration of Non–Work-Related Sickness Absence Episodes

To describe the frequency and distribution of new diagnoses (codiagnoses) arising during a sickness absence (SA) episode, and to analyze their effect on duration of non-work-related SA in Spain. Prospective cohort study from 2004 to 2007. Overall, 15,246 episodes occurred in a population base of 632,000 workers. Median duration of the episodes was the measured outcome. A Cox survival analysis, stratified by sex, estimated the hazard ratio to case closure adjusting by initial diagnosis, codiagnoses, demographic, and employment-related variables. The effect of an increasing number of codiagnoses on duration of the SA episode was evidenced by a progressively decreasing hazard ratio. This was present in both sexes, although the effect was greater in men. New conditions arising in the course of a SA episode significantly prolong its duration.

Prolonged fatigue is associated with sickness absence in men but not in women: prospective study with 1-year follow-up of white-collar employees

Prolonged fatigue adversely affects an individual's performance and functioning. The present study investigated the prospective associations between prolonged fatigue and sickness absence (SA) during 1-year follow-up. At baseline, a convenience sample of white-collar employees received the 20-item Checklist Individual Strength (CIS), which measures prolonged fatigue by covering the dimensions fatigue severity, reduced concentration, reduced motivation, and reduced physical activity. SA episodes were registered during the 1-year follow-up distinguishing between short-term (1-7 days) and long-term ( 7 days) SA episodes. Baseline CIS scores were linked to SA during follow-up by negative binomial regression models in which age, gender, job grade, and prior SA were controlled for. Six hundred and thirty-three (56 %) employees participated in the study of which 598 had complete data and were eligible for analysis. Gender was a significant effect modifier of the relationship between prolonged fatigue and SA. Therefore, the results were stratified for men (N = 365) and women (N = 233). In white-collar men, fatigue severity and reduced concentration were positively associated with the number of long-term SA episodes, while other fatigue dimensions were not significantly related to SA. In white-collar women, prolonged fatigue was not associated with SA during 1-year follow-up. The results of this study warrant more attention for prolonged fatigue in occupational healthcare practice and research. Early identification of and treatment for prolonged fatigue might prevent future health problems and SA, especially in white-collar men.