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Current Rheumatology Reports Jul 2020Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically affects people of working age. Work-related outcomes are therefore important to study,... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically affects people of working age. Work-related outcomes are therefore important to study, both from an individual but also a societal perspective. Through this review of the literature, we explore the impact of axSpA on key work outcomes including work and productivity loss and predictors for these.
RECENT FINDINGS
Recent evidence confirms that axSpA is associated with substantial consequences on the ability to work. Reassuringly, early treatment and use of biologics have been associated with improved wok outcomes highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and management. High disease activity, labour-intensive jobs, poor physical function and impaired spinal mobility are among identified predictors of adverse work outcomes in axSpA. The impact of axSpA on work outcomes is considerable and necessitates optimal intervention, including suppression of disease activity, to enhance people's chances of remaining in work.
Topics: Absenteeism; Biological Products; Disability Evaluation; Efficiency; Humans; Spondylarthritis
PubMed: 32719993
DOI: 10.1007/s11926-020-00932-5 -
Bulletin of the World Health... 1955In this paper, sickness statistics are discussed, with special reference to the differences between medical statistics and those of the sickness benefit organizations....
In this paper, sickness statistics are discussed, with special reference to the differences between medical statistics and those of the sickness benefit organizations. Special attention is paid to the comparability of data from different sources.The distribution of sickness absence among workers appears to be approximately similar to that of a chance event (Poisson distribution). This conclusion applies to pre-war years as well as to the post-war period. Although in the latter period the annual average of sickness absences per worker is much greater, there are no indications that the increase in the frequency rate has to be attributed to specified groups of workers; all workers are equally responsible.The high disability rate cannot be accounted for today by causes such as malnutrition, so the phenomenon must be due to a lowering of the standards by which incapacity for work is judged. Since it is the family physician who sets these standards for the worker, it follows that it is he who is largely responsible for the increased rate of sickness absenteeism. The fact that social insurance has concealed the economic consequences of disabling illnesses from the doctor as well as from the patient is one of the reasons why physicians have tended to relax their disability standards.Family physicians practising under favourable and almost identical conditions within the framework of an industrial health centre may, nevertheless, show considerable differences in attitude. When disability rates were computed separately for the practices of nine general practitioners in the full-time employment of the Medical Department of Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken, Eindhoven, Netherlands, the results showed that there was no common opinion among the doctors with regard to standards of disability. A closer examination of the available data allows the conclusion to be drawn that it is in the power of medicine to reduce sickness absenteeism substantially without damaging the worker's health.Finally, some proposals are made for promoting research on sickness absenteeism and on the diagnosis of disability.
Topics: Absenteeism; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Employment; Humans; Industry; Male; Netherlands; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Health; Occupations
PubMed: 13276807
DOI: No ID Found -
Domain-Specific Active and Sedentary Behaviors in Relation to Workers' Presenteeism and Absenteeism.Journal of Occupational and... Oct 2021To examine the associations between domain-specific sedentary and active behaviors and workers' presenteeism and absenteeism in a sample of company employees.
OBJECTIVES
To examine the associations between domain-specific sedentary and active behaviors and workers' presenteeism and absenteeism in a sample of company employees.
METHODS
This study recruited participants (n = 2466) from a nationwide online survey database (Japan, 2019). Participants completed a questionnaire that captured data on relative and absolute presenteeism and absenteeism and domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviors.
RESULTS
Daily minutes of work-related physical activity were negatively associated with relative absenteeism. Daily minutes of leisure-related physical activity were positively associated with absolute presenteeism (ie, better productivity). Daily minutes of total physical activity were negatively and positively associated with relative absenteeism and absolute presenteeism (ie, better productivity). There was also a positive association between car sitting time and absolute absenteeism.
CONCLUSIONS
A change in work culture and practices that support active behaviors at work and outside of work may improve employee's productivity indices.
Topics: Absenteeism; Efficiency; Humans; Presenteeism; Sedentary Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34310542
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002333 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2021Economic stress has been recognized as a major threat to the well-being and performance of workers, especially during times of global economic crisis. An interesting and...
Economic stress has been recognized as a major threat to the well-being and performance of workers, especially during times of global economic crisis. An interesting and relatively unexplored research topic concerns the associations between economic stress and employee job outcomes such as innovative behaviors, indispensable for business survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between economic stress, absenteeism and innovation. We considered both a direct and a mediation hypothesis and hypothesized that economic stress can have a negative influence on innovation directly and indirectly through increased absenteeism. A cross-sectional study was performed during 2018 and 2019 in an Italian food factory. A sample of 578 employees completed the Stress Questionnaire, the Janssen's nine-item scale and a single-item regarding absenteeism. All relationships are supported by empirical data. As expected, the results indicated that economic stress is negatively related to innovation and positively related to absenteeism, which, in turn, plays a mediating role in the relationship between economic stress and innovative behavior. Herewith, those employees with higher levels of economic stress show higher levels of absenteeism contributing at the same time to a decrease in innovative behaviors. These findings show the importance of economic stress in understanding individual work outcomes and highlight the need to promote adequate intervention programs.
Topics: Absenteeism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34063404
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105265 -
BMC Psychiatry Aug 2022Implicit absenteeism is very common among clinical nurses. We aimed to evaluate the role of psychological coherence in the inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism...
BACKGROUND
Implicit absenteeism is very common among clinical nurses. We aimed to evaluate the role of psychological coherence in the inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism among obstetrics and gynecology nurses, to provide evidence to the clinical management of nurses.
METHODS
Through the convenience sampling method, a survey of gynecology nurses in tertiary hospitals in 16 cities of Anhui Province, China was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, the Stanford Implicit Absence Scale, the Inclusive Leadership Scale and the Sense of Coherence Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20.
RESULTS
A total of 1080 nurses were included with an effective response rate of 93.5%. The average score of nurses' recessive absenteeism in this study was (16.8 ± 0.15). The average of inclusive leadership score was (34.25 ± 7.23). The average score of psychological coherence score of obstetrics and gynecology nurses was (55.79 ± 8.28). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a relationship between implicit absenteeism behavior, inclusive leadership, and the level of psychological coherence in obstetrics and gynecology nurses (all P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis indicated that psychological coherence played a partial mediating role between inclusive leadership and obstetrics and gynecology nurses' implicit absenteeism (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Obstetrics and gynecology nurses have serious recessive absenteeism with low sense of psychological coherence and inclusive leadership. Nursing managers should improve the psychological coherence through effective interventions, thereby reducing the incidence of implicit absenteeism.
Topics: Absenteeism; Female; Gynecology; Humans; Leadership; Nurses; Obstetrics; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35922834
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04137-1 -
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance Jan 2023Influenza causes considerable disease burden each year, particularly in children. Monitoring school absenteeism has long been proposed as a surveillance tool of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Influenza causes considerable disease burden each year, particularly in children. Monitoring school absenteeism has long been proposed as a surveillance tool of influenza activity in the community, but the practice of school absenteeism could be varying, and the potential of such usage remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to determine the potential of monitoring school absenteeism as a surveillance tool of influenza.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of the published literature on the relationship between school absenteeism and influenza activity in the community. We categorized the types of school absenteeism and influenza activity in the community to determine the correlation between these data streams. We also extracted this correlation with different lags in community surveillance to determine the potential of using school absenteeism as a leading indicator of influenza activity.
RESULTS
Among the 35 identified studies, 22 (63%), 12 (34%), and 8 (23%) studies monitored all-cause, illness-specific, and influenza-like illness (ILI)-specific absents, respectively, and 16 (46%) used quantitative approaches and provided 33 estimates on the temporal correlation between school absenteeism and influenza activity in the community. The pooled estimate of correlation between school absenteeism and community surveillance without lag, with 1-week lag, and with 2-week lag were 0.44 (95% CI 0.34, 0.53), 0.29 (95% CI 0.15, 0.42), and 0.21 (95% CI 0.11, 0.31), respectively. The correlation between influenza activity in the community and ILI-specific absenteeism was higher than that between influenza activity in community all-cause absenteeism. Among the 19 studies that used qualitative approaches, 15 (79%) concluded that school absenteeism was in concordance with, coincided with, or was associated with community surveillance. Of the 35 identified studies, only 6 (17%) attempted to predict influenza activity in the community from school absenteeism surveillance.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a moderate correlation between school absenteeism and influenza activity in the community. The smaller correlation between school absenteeism and community surveillance with lag, compared to without lag, suggested that careful application was required to use school absenteeism as a leading indicator of influenza epidemics. ILI-specific absenteeism could monitor influenza activity more closely, but the required resource or school participation willingness may require careful consideration to weight against the associated costs. Further development is required to use and optimize the use of school absenteeism to predict influenza activity. In particular, the potential of using more advanced statistical models and validation of the predictions should be explored.
Topics: Child; Humans; Influenza, Human; Absenteeism; Schools; Models, Statistical
PubMed: 36630159
DOI: 10.2196/41329 -
International Journal of Occupational... Jun 2022Neuropathic pain and chronic pain constitute an interdisciplinary problem on the border of medicine, psychology, sociology and economics. While it seems to be... (Review)
Review
Neuropathic pain and chronic pain constitute an interdisciplinary problem on the border of medicine, psychology, sociology and economics. While it seems to be underestimated, the scale of this problem will continue to increase due to the population aging and the growing incidence of lifestyle disorders. People employed in various occupational sectors may also wrestle with these disease units, which affect the quality of their life, mental health and work productivity. A narrative review provided an overview of neuropathic pain and chronic pain, and their relationship to such factors as job type, work absenteeism and productivity decline, as well mental well-being. A systematic literature search was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to identify appropriate literature by searching the electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Pain Journal and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies were published in Polish, English and French. Research shows an increasing number of musculoskeletal diseases in professionally active people, which lead to disability or provoke work absences. However, sickness presenteeism and/or absenteeism caused by pain not only leads to economic burdens, but also to burnout, fatigue and depression syndromes in employees. These disorders may require specialized effective interventions to support the return to work or maintaining employment despite experiencing pain. Every patient with chronic or neuropathic pain should be correctly assessed to determine the best method of treatment and its effectiveness. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):249-64.
Topics: Absenteeism; Chronic Pain; Humans; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuralgia; Presenteeism
PubMed: 35040826
DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01676 -
Population Health Management Jun 2022A literature review of peer-reviewed articles published 2000-2019 was conducted to determine the types and extent of hypertension-associated productivity loss among... (Review)
Review
A literature review of peer-reviewed articles published 2000-2019 was conducted to determine the types and extent of hypertension-associated productivity loss among adults in the United States. All monetary outcomes were standardized to 2019 $ by using the Employment Cost Index. Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Nearly half of the articles (12 articles) presented monetary outcomes of productivity loss. Absenteeism (14 articles) and presenteeism (8 articles) were most frequently assessed. Annual absenteeism was estimated to cost more than $11 billion, nationally controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The annual additional costs per person were estimated at $63 for short-term disability, $72-$330 for absenteeism, and $53-$156 for presenteeism, controlling for participant characteristics; and may be as high as $2362 for absenteeism and presenteeism when considered in combination. The annual additional time loss per person was estimated as 1.3 days for absenteeism, controlling for common hypertension comorbidities, including stroke and diabetes; and 15.6 days for work and home productivity loss combined, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The loss from absenteeism alone might be more than 20% of the total medical expenditure of hypertension. Although the differences in estimation methods and study populations make it challenging to synthesize the costs across the studies, this review provides detailed information on the various types of productivity loss. In addition, the ways in which methods could be standardized for future research are discussed. Accounting for the costs from productivity loss can help public health officials, health insurers, employers, and researchers better understand the economic burden of hypertension.
Topics: Absenteeism; Adult; Cost of Illness; Efficiency; Employment; Humans; Hypertension; Presenteeism; United States
PubMed: 35119298
DOI: 10.1089/pop.2021.0201 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2022Poor knowledge and management of menstruation impacts girls' school attendance and academic performance. This paper aims to explore how menstrual hygiene management...
Poor knowledge and management of menstruation impacts girls' school attendance and academic performance. This paper aims to explore how menstrual hygiene management practices and related factors influence school absenteeism and drop-out among primary and secondary school girls in rural Gambia. Mixed-method studies were conducted among students and key informants from 19 schools from July 2015-December 2017. Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, cross-sectional surveys, menstrual diaries, and school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility observations were used. Key findings from the interviews were that menstrual pain, cultural beliefs, fear of peers knowing menstrual status, and poor school WASH facilities led to school absenteeism, however, they had no impact on school drop-out. Of the 561 girls surveyed, 27% reported missing at least one school day per month due to menses. Missing school during the most recent menstrual period was strongly associated with menstrual pain (extreme pain adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 16.8 (95% CI: 7.29-38.74)), as was having at least one symptom suggestive of urinary tract infection (AOR = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.16-2.52)) or reproductive tract infection (AOR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.34-2.94)). Clean toilets (AOR = 0.44 (95% CI: 0.26-75)), being happy using school latrines while menstruating (AOR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.37-0.93)), and soap availability (AOR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.3-0.73)) were associated with reduced odds of school absenteeism. This study suggests menstrual pain, school WASH facilities, urogenital infections, and cultural beliefs affected school attendance among menstruating girls in rural Gambia.
Topics: Absenteeism; Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Gambia; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Hygiene; Male; Menstruation; Schools
PubMed: 35329020
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063337 -
Clinical Rheumatology Dec 2021To compare work absenteeism and short-term disability among adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), versus controls in the USA.
OBJECTIVES
To compare work absenteeism and short-term disability among adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), versus controls in the USA.
METHODS
Adults eligible for work absenteeism and/or short-term disability benefits between 1/1/2009 and 4/30/2020 were screened in the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Health and Productivity Management Databases. The following groups were defined: (1) psoriasis: ≥ 2 psoriasis diagnoses ≥ 30 days apart and no PsA diagnoses; (2) PsA: ≥ 2 PsA diagnoses ≥ 30 days apart; (3) control: absence of psoriasis and PsA diagnoses. Controls were matched to psoriasis and PsA patients based on age, gender, index year, and comorbidities. Non-recreational work absences and sick leaves were evaluated in absentee-eligible patients, and short-term disability was evaluated in short-term disability-eligible patients. Costs (in 2019 USD) associated with each type of work absence were evaluated.
RESULTS
4261 psoriasis and 616 PsA absentee-eligible and 25,213 psoriasis and 3480 PsA short-term disability-eligible patients were matched to controls. Average non-recreational work absence costs were $1681, $1657, and $1217 for the PsA, psoriasis, and control group, respectively. Compared with psoriasis patients and controls, more PsA patients had sick leaves after 1 year (56.2% versus 55.6% and 41.5%, p < 0.0001). Similarly, short-term disability was more frequent in PsA patients than psoriasis patients and controls at year one (8.8% versus 5.6% and 4.7%, p < 0.0001) and corresponding costs were higher ($605, $406, and $335 on average, p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Annual work absenteeism and short-term disability were consistently greater among patients with PsA and psoriasis than controls, highlighting the substantial economic burden of psoriatic disease. Key points • Patients with PsA had greater short-term disability compared with patients with psoriasis and patients with neither psoriasis nor PsA. • Patients with PsA and patients with psoriasis incurred greater non-recreational work absences and sick leaves than patients with neither psoriasis nor PsA.
Topics: Absenteeism; Adult; Arthritis, Psoriatic; Efficiency; Humans; Psoriasis; Retrospective Studies; United States
PubMed: 34287723
DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05839-9