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JAMA Network Open Mar 2022Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is common and associated with increased morbidity. The degree to which AUD currently factors into workplace absenteeism needs further...
IMPORTANCE
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is common and associated with increased morbidity. The degree to which AUD currently factors into workplace absenteeism needs further characterization in the US.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between AUD and workplace absenteeism in a nationally representative sample.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cross-sectional study used data from a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized US residents from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine the association of AUD with workplace absenteeism. Eligible respondents were aged 18 years and older who reported full-time employment. Data were analyzed from March to September 2021.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Primary outcomes were markers of workplace absenteeism as defined by the number of days missed from work because of illness or injury and days skipped from work in the last 30 days. Descriptive statistics, prevalence ratios, and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between AUD and absenteeism.
RESULTS
A total of 110 701 adults aged 18 years and older reported current full-time employment (58 948 [53.2%] men, 51 753 [46.8%] women; 12 776 [11.5%] Black, 18 096 [16.3%] Hispanic, and 69 506 [62.8%] White respondents). Weighted prevalence of AUD in this sample of working adults was 9.3% (95% CI, 9.0%-9.5%); 6.2% (95% CI, 6.0%-6.4%) of respondents met criteria for mild AUD, 1.9% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.0%) for moderate AUD, and 1.2% (95% CI, 1.1%-1.3%) for severe AUD. Mean days missed from work annually increased in a stepwise fashion with increasing AUD severity (no AUD, 13.0 days; 95% CI, 12.7-13.2 days; mild AUD, 17.7 days; 95% CI, 16.4-19.1 days; moderate AUD, 23.6 days; 95% CI, 21.5-25.7 days; severe AUD, 32.3 days; 95% CI, 27.5-37.0 days). People with AUD represented 9.3% of the full-time workforce and contributed to 14.1% of total reported workplace absences.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this cross-sectional study, AUD was disproportionately associated with an increased prevalence of workplace absenteeism, with individuals with AUD contributing over 232 million missed workdays annually. These results provide economic incentive for increased investment in AUD prevention and treatment, both for employers and policy makers.
Topics: Absenteeism; Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Workplace
PubMed: 35297970
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2954 -
BMJ Global Health Dec 2022Primary health centres (PHCs) in Nigeria suffer critical shortages of health workers, aggravated by chronic absenteeism that has been attributed to insufficient...
BACKGROUND
Primary health centres (PHCs) in Nigeria suffer critical shortages of health workers, aggravated by chronic absenteeism that has been attributed to insufficient resources to govern the system and adequately meet their welfare needs. However, the political drivers of this phenomenon are rarely considered. We have asked how political power and networks influence absenteeism in the Nigerian health sector, information that can inform the development of holistic solutions.
METHODS
Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with three health administrators, 30 health workers and 6 health facility committee chairmen in 15 PHCs in Enugu State, Nigeria. Our analysis explored how political configurations and the resulting distribution of power influence absenteeism in Nigeria's health systems.
RESULTS
We found that health workers leverage social networks with powerful and politically connected individuals to be absent from duty and escape sanctions. This reflects the dominant political settlement. Thus, the formal governance structures that are meant to regulate the operations of the health system are weak, thereby allowing powerful individuals to exert influence using informal means. As a result, health managers do not confront absentees who have a relationship with political actors for fear of repercussions, including retaliation through informal pressure. In addition, we found that while health system structures cannot effectively handle widespread absenteeism, networks of local actors, when interested and involved, could address absenteeism by enabling health managers to call politically connected staff to order.
CONCLUSION
The formal governance mechanisms to reduce absenteeism are insufficient, and building alliances (often informal) with local elites interested in improving service delivery locally may help to reduce interference by other powerful actors.
Topics: Humans; Nigeria; Absenteeism; Politics; Government Programs; Health Workforce
PubMed: 36593645
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010542 -
La Clinica Terapeutica 2023Work-related stress represents a major health problem within most work environments and its rates of incidence are increasing as time goes by. Work-related stress is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Work-related stress represents a major health problem within most work environments and its rates of incidence are increasing as time goes by. Work-related stress is both detrimental for workers' psychophysical health and costly to societies. Besides the direct medical costs that represent only a fraction of the total cost, data is either lacking or unreliable to properly estimate the economic impact of occupational stress.
METHODS
This paper reviews international studies and organisational reports in order to highlight occupational stress economic impact on an international level.
RESULTS
The study shows that work-related stress imposes an undeniable financial burden on worldwide societies. Findings show estimations that vary from € 54 million up to € 280 billion depending on the country. Results suggest that productivity loss due to absenteeism and presenteeism has a greater economic impact compared to the medical expenses.
DISCUSSION
Generally speaking, the costs of work-related stress, also according to Europe, impact both on employers and welfare sy-stems, and from the point of view of prevention we should work hard to improve stress-management strategies.
CONCLUSIONS
The discussion around this matter should be emphasized in order to properly address occupational stress and make implications for job redesign under the perspective that promoting and protecting workers' mental well-being will benefit the individual and allow cost containment benefitting the collective as well.
Topics: Humans; Europe; Working Conditions; Absenteeism; Occupational Stress
PubMed: 37674456
DOI: 10.7417/CT.2023.2464 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2022This study aimed to evaluate and describe the indicators of occupational health, with a focus on the medical expertise and periodic medical examination.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate and describe the indicators of occupational health, with a focus on the medical expertise and periodic medical examination.
METHODS
This is exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional, documentary, quantitative, and retrospective research, in the historical series: 2011 to 2015.
RESULTS
The number of lost days of work per worker and the frequency of licenses increased despite the decrease in the Absenteeism Duration Index and stabilization of the Frequency of Medical Workers. As for the adhesion of the workers to the Periodic Medical Examinations, it was decreasing, with a higher percentage in the year 2012 (35.3%). During the analyzed period, 5,186 workers performed the Periodic Medical Examination, and the majority (60.6%) presented non-ideal weight, 41.1% were sedentary, 33.2% had dyslipidemia, 29.0% were alcoholic, 3.2% were smokers, 5.9% had diabetics, and 16.4% reported high noise in the workplace, 27.8% inadequate lighting and 35.9% inadequate work furniture.
CONCLUSIONS
The results highlight the need to maintain and strengthen the Worker Health and Safety Policy with emphasis on surveillance, aiming at the promotion and protection of the health of the workers, based on the elaboration of the epidemiological profile of health and, consequently, the implementation of positive impact strategies.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Retrospective Studies; Workplace; Absenteeism
PubMed: 36434565
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14584-w -
The Indian Medical Gazette May 1948
Topics: Absenteeism; Humans; Industry; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Work
PubMed: 18107929
DOI: No ID Found -
Value in Health : the Journal of the... Jan 2023This study aimed to conduct a scoping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and investigate which work productivity loss outcomes were measured in these RCTs,... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to conduct a scoping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and investigate which work productivity loss outcomes were measured in these RCTs, how each outcome was measured and analyzed, and how the results for each outcome were presented.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted from January 2010 to April 2020 from 2 databases: PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data on country, study population, disease focus, sample size, work productivity loss outcomes measured (absenteeism, presenteeism, employment status changes), and methods used to measure, report, and analyze each work productivity loss outcome were extracted and analyzed.
RESULTS
We found 435 studies measuring absenteeism or presenteeism, of which 155 studies (35.6%) measured both absenteeism and presenteeism and were included in our final review. Only 9 studies also measured employment status changes. The most used questionnaire was the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire. The analysis of absenteeism and presenteeism data was mostly done using regression models (n = 98, n = 98, respectively) for which a normal distribution was assumed (n = 77, n = 89, respectively). Absenteeism results were most often presented in time whereas presenteeism was commonly presented using a percent scale or score.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of consensus on how to measure, analyze, and present work productivity loss outcomes in RCTs published in the past 10 years. The diversity of measurement, analysis, and presentation methods used in RCTs may make comparability challenging. There is a need for guidelines providing recommendations to standardize the comprehensiveness and the appropriateness of methods used to measure, analyze, and report work productivity loss in RCTs.
Topics: Humans; Absenteeism; Efficiency; Employment; Presenteeism; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35961865
DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.06.015 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2020Unplanned absenteeism (UA), which includes medically certified leave (MC) or emergency leave (EL), among nurses may disturb the work performance of their team and...
Unplanned absenteeism (UA), which includes medically certified leave (MC) or emergency leave (EL), among nurses may disturb the work performance of their team and disrupt the quality of patient care. Currently, there is limited study in Malaysia that examines the role of stressors in determining absenteeism among nurses. Therefore, apart from estimating the prevalence and the reasons of UA among nurses in Malaysia, this study aims to determine its stressor-related determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 697 randomly sampled nurses working in Selangor, Malaysia. Most of them were female (97.3%), married (83.4%), and working in shifts (64.4%) in hospital settings (64.3%). In the past year, the prevalence of ever taking MC and EL were 49.1% and 48.4%, respectively. The mean frequency of MC and EL were 1.80 (SD = 1.593) and 1.92 (SD = 1.272) times, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean duration of MC and EL were 4.24 (SD = 10.355) and 2.39 (SD = 1.966) days, respectively. The most common reason for MC and EL was unspecified fever (39.2%) and child sickness (51.9%), respectively. The stressor-related determinants of durations of MC were inadequate preparation at the workplace (Adj. = -1.065) and conflict with doctors (adjusted regression coefficient (Adj.) = 0.491). On the other hand, the stressor-related determinants of durations of EL were conflict with spouse (Adj. = 0.536), sexual conflict (Adj. = -0.435), no babysitter (Adj. = 0.440), inadequate preparation at workplace (Adj. = 0.257), lack of staff support (Adj. = -0.190) and conflict with doctors (Adj. = -0.112). The stressor-related determinants of the frequency of MC were conflicts over household tasks (Adj. = -0.261), no time with family (Adj. = 0.257), dangerous surroundings (Adj. = 0.734), conflict with close friends (Adj. = -0.467), and death and dying (Adj. = 0.051). In contrast, the stressor-related determinants of frequency of EL were not enough money (Adj. = -0.334), conflicts with spouse (Adj. = 0.383), pressure from relatives (Adj. = 0.207), and inadequate preparation (Adj. = 0.090). In conclusion, apart from the considerably high prevalence of unplanned absenteeism and its varying frequency, duration and reasons, there is no clear distinction in the role between workplace and non-workplace stressors in determining MC or EL among nurses in Malaysia; thus, preventive measures that target both type of stressors are warranted. Future studies should consider longitudinal design and mixed-method approaches using a comprehensive model of absenteeism.
Topics: Absenteeism; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Workplace
PubMed: 32846878
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176132 -
Academic Pediatrics 2022Chronic school absenteeism is linked to failure to graduate high school and poor health in adulthood. Contextual factors associated with absenteeism may be...
OBJECTIVE
Chronic school absenteeism is linked to failure to graduate high school and poor health in adulthood. Contextual factors associated with absenteeism may be under-recognized in school and clinical settings. We examined the prevalence of self-reported absenteeism and violence exposure and their association among middle school students with identified risk of trauma.
METHODS
We analyzed baseline data from a dating violence prevention program. Participants completed surveys identifying lifetime exposure to 10 types of violence and past 30-day absence. Violence exposure and absenteeism were summarized and compared across demographic groups. Generalized linear models examined associations between 1) any history of violence exposure, 2) each type of violence exposure, and 3) summed exposures to different types of violence, and frequent absenteeism (≥2 absences in past 30 days).
RESULTS
Of all participants (overall n = 499), 45.5% reported frequent absenteeism and 71.5% reported violence exposure. Any self-reported violence exposure was associated with absenteeism (aRR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.06-1.92). However, no specific type of violence exposure predicted absenteeism. Comparing summed exposures to different types of violence to no violence exposure, exposure to 1 type of violence was associated with absenteeism (aRR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.15-2.20), with no evidence of stronger associations with greater exposure (2-3 types: aRR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.00-1.88; ≥4 types: aRR = 1.31, 95%CI: 0.98-1.74).
CONCLUSIONS
Youth in this sample reported both high rates of violence exposure and absenteeism. Prior violence exposure was associated with absenteeism. Resources and contextual support for youth exposed to family or community violence may play a role in school attendance, emphasizing need for trauma-sensitive approaches to absenteeism.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Adult; Absenteeism; Exposure to Violence; Schools; Violence; Students
PubMed: 35342032
DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.03.012 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2021Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally...
Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally conducive for learning and working. Here, we aimed to study the relations between indoor classroom temperatures and learner absenteeism as a proxy for children's health and well-being. This one-year prospective study that spanned two calendar years (from June 2017 to May 2018) entailed measurement of indoor classroom temperature and relative humidity, calculated as apparent temperature (Tapp) and collection of daily absenteeism records for each classroom in schools in and around King Williams Town, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Classroom characteristics were collected using a standardized observation checklist. Mean indoor classroom temperature ranged from 11 to 30 °C, while mean outdoor temperature ranged from 6 °C to 31 °C during the sample period. Indoor classroom temperatures typically exceeded outdoor temperatures by 5 °C for 90% of the study period. While multiple factors may influence absenteeism, we found absenteeism was highest at low indoor classroom Tapp (i.e., below 15 °C). Absenteeism decreased as indoor Tapp increased to about 25 °C before showing another increase in absenteeism. Classroom characteristics differed among schools. Analyses of indoor classroom temperature and absenteeism in relation to classroom characteristics showed few statistically significant relations-although not exceptionally strong ones-likely because of the multiple factors that influence absenteeism. However, given the possible relationship between indoor temperature and absenteeism, there is a learning imperative to consider thermal comfort as a fundamental element of school planning and design. Furthermore, additional research on factors besides temperature that affect learner absenteeism is needed, especially in rural areas.
Topics: Absenteeism; Air Pollution, Indoor; Child; Hot Temperature; Humans; Prospective Studies; Schools; South Africa; Temperature
PubMed: 34682446
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010700 -
International Archives of Occupational... Mar 2022Depression is a highly prevalent mental health condition with substantial individual, societal and economic consequences. This study focussed on the association of...
PURPOSE
Depression is a highly prevalent mental health condition with substantial individual, societal and economic consequences. This study focussed on the association of depressive symptom severity with absenteeism duration and employer labour costs.
METHODS
Using cross-sectional data from the German Health Update 2014/2015, multivariable zero-inflated Poisson regression (ZIP) models explored the association of depressive symptom severity (8-item depression patient health questionnaire-PHQ-8), with absenteeism weeks during 12 months in men and women working full- or part-time. The predicted sick leave weeks were multiplied by mean average labour costs.
RESULTS
The sample consisted of 12,405 persons with an average sick leave of 1.89 weeks (SD 4.26). Fifty-four % were women and 57% were between 40 and 59 years of age. In men and women, mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe depressive symptoms were associated with a significant factor increase in sick leave weeks compared to persons with no or minimal symptoms. Labour costs increased with increasing symptom severity from € 1468.22 for men with no or minimal depressive symptoms to € 7190.25 for men with severe depressive symptoms and from € 1045.82 to € 4306.30 in women, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The present results indicate that increasing depressive symptom severity is associated with increasing absenteeism and employer costs. They emphasize the need for implementation, realignment or extension of professional work-site health promotion programmes aiming at the improvement and maintenance of employee health and the reduction of labour costs associated with depression-related sick leave.
Topics: Absenteeism; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Sick Leave
PubMed: 34661720
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01788-7