Frequency Of Sickness Absence Research Articles

Differntial associations between high mental and psychic demands made by work and the inability-to-work spectrum

The associations between the psychological demands of work and frequency as well as duration of sickness absence by diagnosis are analysed according to subgroups by sex. Suitable regression techniques provide a valid assessment of the associations. The analyses reveal differential associations in two perspectives: whereas high versus low psychological demands of work are obviously associated with a lower frequency of sickness absence, concerning the duration of absence a notable reverse trend is seen. Moreover, these antipodal associations are more distinct in the subgroup of men than in women. The great number of observations in the groups of exposed and non-exposed employees as well as the detailed analysis determine the validity and the ranking of the results provided by this study.

High physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.

This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain. A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video recordings. Work-related psychosocial variables were measured by means of the Job Content Questionnaire. The frequency of sickness absence due to neck pain with a minimal duration of 3 days was assessed on the basis of company registrations during the follow-up period. Altogether 758 workers were included in the analyses. Possible confounding by individual characteristics, physical load, and psychosocial load was studied. Work-related neck flexion and neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion showed statistically significant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios ranging from 1.6 to 4.2). High quantitative job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security showed nonsignificant increased risks for sickness absence due to neck pain (adjusted rate ratios of 2.0, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively). Work-related sitting, conflicting job demands, supervisor support, and co-worker support did not increase sickness absence due to neck pain. Work-related neck flexion, neck rotation, low decision authority, and medium skill discretion are risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain. There are indications that high job demands, low skill discretion, and low job security are also risk factors for sickness absence due to neck pain.

Effects of stable and changing demand-control histories on worker health.

The present study examined effects of stability and change in exposure to job demands and job control (demand-control histories) in relation to the strain hypothesis of Karasek's demand-control model. The hypotheses [(i) high (low) levels of ill health were expected for workers exposed to stable 1 levels of high (low) job demands and low (high) job control; (ii) decreases (increases) in strain-related health outcomes were expected for workers with positive (negative) changes in job demands and job control; (iii) workers reporting major changes in job demands or control were expected to report more "objective" job changes] were tested with a group-by-time analysis of variance using data from a four-phase Dutch cohort study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health. Associations between demand-control histories and job changes were tested in a log-linear analysis. The hypotheses for the stable exposure groups were supported for depression and job satisfaction. Those for positive and negative changes were partially supported. There was no relation, however, between the level of stability or changes in exposure to demands and control for the registered duration and frequency of sickness absence. Finally, the results showed that workers reporting major changes in demand-control histories over time had more job changes, and those reporting job changes towards high strain jobs evaluated the changes as more distressful. This longitudinal study supports the strain hypothesis of the demand-control model and shows a significant association between major changes in demand-control histories and job changes.

Do mental health problems increase sickness absence due to other diseases?

The incidence of mental health problems is rising. Large sex differences are found for mental health problems, which also is reflected in sick-leave. The aim of this study was to analyse the association of mental health problems with sickness absence in general. Employed women (n = 1407) in four occupational groups, namely metal workers, enrolled nurses, medical secretaries and nurses, were included. Sick-leave data were collected through social insurance and employers' registers. Five indicators reflecting different aspects of mental health problems were analysed in relation to sickness absence. Women with mental health problems, irrespective of indicator used, had higher levels of sickness absence than women without mental health problems. The association was found for frequency, incidence, length and duration of sickness absence, and it was found also with respect to less severe forms of mental health problems. For example, women with worries had a frequency of 3.5 sick-leave spells per year, while women without worries had 2.5 spells. Furthermore, women with self-reported mental illness (SF-36) had a 1.93 times increase in sick-leave length over 1 year. We conclude that mental health problems need to be recognised in relation to sickness absence, rehabilitation and prevention in all diagnoses.

The gender gap in musculoskeletal-related long-term sickness absence in Norway.

To examine the gender differences in long-term (> 14 days) sickness absence due to musculoskeletal health problems. Analysis of data from the National Sickness Benefit Register, 1994. The economically active population in Norway, except civil servants (n = 1,978,030). All persons, 16-66 years old, with long-term sickness absence episodes due to musculoskeletal health problems in 1994 (n = 141,839). Cumulative incidence, episode frequency, and episode duration of sickness absence. Women had higher cumulative incidence of sickness absence than men-80.6 pr 1,000 vs. 64.1 pr 1,000, and longer mean duration of episodes-94 calendar days vs. 86 days counted from the first day of absence. Episode frequency did not differ between the genders. After adjustment for age and income the gender ratio (men/women) in cumulative incidence changed from 0.80 to 1.08, and in mean duration from 0.91 to 0.96. Long-term sickness absence due to musculoskeletal health problems was strongly associated with gender, age, income, and diagnosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that the large gender differences in sickness absence might be overstated due to lack of adjustment for income and income-related factors.

Diabetes mellitus and employment: is there discrimination in the workplace?

The employment record of 102 diabetic workers (73 men, 29 women), identified in a cross-sectional survey of 5670 middle-aged people in a New Zealand workforce, was studied for evidence of discrimination in the workplace. Compared with 403 matched controls (292 men, 111 women), diabetic workers showed no significant differences in socioeconomic status, educational attainment, or distribution between occupational groups. Similarly, mean duration of current employment (12.3 vs 12.4 years), mean number of jobs in the past 5 years (1.25 vs 1.34 jobs), frequency of sickness absence, and mean number of hours worked each week (43.5 vs 43.3h) did not differ significantly between diabetic and non-diabetic groups. We found no significant differences in work stress, even among those diabetic individuals with poor blood glucose control. There was no convincing evidence across a broad spectrum of industry that diabetic workers did suffer discrimination in the workplace.

SICKNESS ABSENCE, RESPIRATORY IMPAIRMENT AND SMOKING IN INDUSTRY AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY

A retrospective study of sickness absence, respiratory impairment and their relation to smoking habits was conducted among a heterogeneous population of 1867 staff members of 12 Australian organizations. Data on smoking habits were used to divide the sample into current cigarette smokers (n=392), ex-cigarette smokers (n=182) and those who had never smoked (n=714). Results of the health survey by self-administered questionnaire showed that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher in cigarette smokers than in non-smokers both in men and women. Smoking was particularly related to frequency of cough, and sputum production. Wheezing showed a similar, though less marked, trend. The influence of smoking on the pulmonary function value, FEV1/FVC% was assessed in a group of 972 men and 297 women. Results of analysis of variance showed that ventilatory function was significantly impaired among smokers and ex-smokers. The sickness absence records of 826 cigarette smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers were also compared. Both frequency and duration of sickness absence were greater in cigarette smokers and ex-smokers. Significant differences between these groups were confirmed in total as well as in certified absence. Among males, the average number of days off work was 1.59 times greater in male smokers than in male non-smokers, and 1.36 times greater for female subjects who smoked. The epidemiological implications of such findings await further research. However, the consequences for the individual, industry and the general community are apparent.

Frequency of sickness absence and worksite clinic visits among nurses as a function of shift

The records of 1219 nurses on permanent day, afternoon, night and rotating shifts were examined to assess the effects of shift schedule on sick leave and frequency of worksite clinic visits. Relative to nurses on permanent shifts, rotators exhibited a significantly higher rate of clinic visits and took more sick days for serious illnesses.

Relationship between sickness absence and meteorological factors.

Sickness absence rates are higher in winter than in summer and also the incidence of many diseases is affected by climatic conditions. Both these facts lead one to suspect that there is a genuine causative relationship between the weather and sickness absence. The object of this investigation is to develop a model to illustrate this relationship in order to obtain some idea of its precise form. Any effect of weather on the weekly incidence of sickness absence can be assumed to take one of three forms: (i) a steady long-term cumulative effect whereby the more adverse weather conditions in winter eventually affect the health and absence behaviour of employees; (ii) a more short-term effect whereby deviations of weather conditions about the seasonal norm may influence the sickness absence frequency in the same or subsequent weeks; (iii) the spread of infectious disease, whereby one week's sickness absence frequency is determined to some extent by the amount of infection brought over from previous weeks. Though waves of infection are influenced by weather conditions (e.g., they are more frequent in winter), their occurrence is largely unpredictable and they must be considered separately from (i) and (ii). The regression model described below is designed to assess the importance of the effects of types (ii) and (iii) after the elimination of the broad seasonal trends indicative of effects of type (i). This model is illustrated by sickness absence data from one organization. Literature Little research has been carried out on the effect of the weather on absenteeism. However, several attempts have been made to discover the relationship between meteorological factors and various indices of mortality and morbidity, in most cases for particular types of disease.