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PubMed1985

Determining school programming needs of special population groups: a study of asthmatic children.

A study of the 4,382 children in the New Milford (Connecticut) Public School System was conducted to determine if upper respiratory conditions and other health problems may be related to school performance. Seven percent of the 4,036 respondents were found to be asthmatic. Correlations of school-related factors for 61 of 286 students who had high absenteeism did not appear to be dependent upon asthma for any identified health problem. As absenteeism increased, student grades decreased. Achievement testing in math and reading was related positively to IQ and appeared to be unaffected by absenteeism from school. On the basis of this study, special education programming was not recommended for the target population; however, parents and school personnel are much more aware of physical, emotional, and mental health problems and their possible implications for school performance.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1991

[Characteristic features of children subjected to vaccination against influenza--in view of the state of their absence from school during a non-prevalence period].

Characteristic features of children subjected to vaccination against influenza were analyzed in view of the state of their absence from school during a non-prevalence period of this disease. A total of 31,902 children were divided broadly into those with a history of asthma, allergy or cardiac disease [disease history group, 1,048 (3.3%) children] and those without such a history [non-disease history group, 30,854 (96.7%) children]. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to the number of inoculations (0, 1, 2 inoculations) given during the period between October and November 1988. The three subgroups in each group were compared statistically with regard to the state of absence from school during the non-prevalence period of influenza between April and July 1988, and the following results were obtained. 1. Disease history groups. There was no significant difference among the three subgroups with regard to the rate of absenteeism or mean number of days of absence. Also, no significant difference among them was found in the overall or segmental distribution of days of absence. These findings indicate that the three subgroups of children with a history of disease were almost homogeneous. However, the overall rate of absenteeism was significantly high among children who received one inoculation (p less than 0.001). In this subgroup, the number of children who were absent from school for 21-30 days was greater than that of children who were absent for fewer days. This contributed to the highest overall rate of absenteeism in this subgroup.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study is an empirical investigation of sickness presenteeism in relation to occupation, irreplaceability, ill health, sickness absenteeism, personal income, and slimmed down organisation. DESIGN: Cross sectional design. SETTING: Swedish workforce. PARTICIPANTS: The study group comprised a stratified subsample of 3801 employed persons working at the time of the survey, interviewed by telephone in conjunction with Statistics Sweden's labour market surveys of August and September 1997. The response rate was 87 per cent. MAIN RESULTS: A third of the persons in the total material reported that they had gone to work two or more times during the preceding year despite the feeling that, in the light of their perceived state of health, they should have taken sick leave. The highest presenteeism is largely to be found in the care and welfare and education sectors (nursing and midwifery professionals, registered nurses, nursing home aides, compulsory school teachers and preschool/primary educationalists. All these groups work in sectors that have faced personnel cutbacks during the 1990s). The risk ratio (odds ratio (OR)) for sickness presenteeism in the group that has to re-do work remaining after a period of absence through sickness is 2.29 (95% CI 1.79, 2.93). High proportions of persons with upper back/neck pain and fatigue/slightly depressed are among those with high presenteeism (p< 0.001). Occupational groups with high sickness presenteeism show high sickness absenteeism (rho = 0. 38; p<.01) and the hypothesis on level of pay and sickness presenteeism is also supported (rho = -0.22; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Members of occupational groups whose everyday tasks are to provide care or welfare services, or teach or instruct, have a substantially increased risk of being at work when sick. The link between difficulties in replacement or finding a stand in and sickness presenteeism is confirmed by study results. The categories with high sickness presenteeism experience symptoms more often than those without presenteeism. The most common combination is low monthly income, high sickness absenteeism and high sickness presenteeism.

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PubMed2006

Can strenuous leisure time physical activity prevent psychological complaints in a working population?

AIMS: To investigate the longitudinal relation between strenuous leisure time physical activity and psychological complaints (depression and emotional exhaustion) in a Dutch working population in order to find evidence for the preventive role of physical activity in the development of psychological complaints. METHODS: All data came from the Study on Musculoskeletal disorders, Absenteeism, Stress, and Health (SMASH), a three year follow up study that started between 1994 and 1995. The study population consisted of 1747 workers from 34 companies. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) analyses were performed to investigate the longitudinal relation between strenuous leisure time physical activity and psychological complaints using models with and without a time lag. Logistic regression analyses were performed to study the relation between physical activity and sickness absence due to psychological complaints during the three year follow up study. RESULTS: Only in workers with a sedentary job was strenuous leisure time physical activity (1-2 times per week) significantly associated with a reduced risk of future depression and emotional exhaustion. This was not the case for physical activity at higher frequencies (> or =3 times per week). There was a dose-response relation between strenuous leisure time physical activity and poor general health which was strongest in workers with a sedentary job. Strenuous leisure time physical activity (1-2 times per week) was associated with a lower risk of long term absenteeism (>21 days), whereas physical activity at a higher frequency was not. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that strenuous leisure time physical activity might play a role in the prevention of future psychological complaints, poor general health, and long term absenteeism in a working population. Workers with a sedentary job seem to benefit more from strenuous leisure time physical activity than workers without a sedentary job.

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PubMed2006

Risk factors for voice problems in teachers.

In order to identify factors that are associated with voice problems and voice-related absenteeism in teachers, 1,878 questionnaires were analysed. The questionnaires inquired about personal data, voice complaints, voice-related absenteeism from work and conditions that may lead to voice complaints and absenteeism. Different factors play a role in the development and consolidation of voice problems. Physical and psycho-emotional factors appear to be the most important risk factors. Remarkably, voice load and environment seem to be less important as risk factors in the development and consolidation of voice complaints. Teachers who experienced voice problems during their training reported more voice problems during their career. The results of this study stress the importance of a multifactorial approach in the diagnosis and treatment of voice problems, whereby physical and psycho-emotional aspects should be considered as sensitive to the risk of developing voice problems. Moreover, this study shows the crucial importance of adequate voice training during the teacher training programme.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1986

Risk factors and reported sick leave among employees of Saab-Scania, Linköping, Sweden, between the ages of 50 and 59.

An investigation group, consisting of all 1313 employees in the age range 50-59 years, in 1975 was called during working time to the Company's Physical Training Centre to have certain risk factors assessed. The evaluation included an interview which covered risk factors such as smoking and exercise habits and measurements such as systolic blood pressure, height, weight and certain anthropometric measurements. Information was also obtained from the personnel records regarding sex, age, form of employment, education code and reported sick leave in 1974 and 1975 for the workers, and between 1970 and 1975 for the salaried employees. The total number of dropouts was 238, or 18%. Absenteeism among those who did not participate in the interview and measurements was markedly higher than for those who did. The fact that this group dropped out of the investigation implies a high risk and a need for preventive programmes. The single risk factor that showed the strongest connection with absenteeism was a low degree of physical activity during leisure hours. The design of this study as a cross-section investigation limits its use to assessing the current degree of correlation between different risk factors and absenteeism. We cannot, then, predict future illness on the basis of these findings.

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PubMed2005

The economic impact of GERD and PUD: examination of direct and indirect costs using a large integrated employer claims database.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of work loss associated with gastro- the relationship of work loss associated with gastro- the relationship of work loss associated with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in a large population of employed individuals in the United States (US) and quantify the individuals in the United States (US) and quantify the economic impact of these diseases to the employer. METHODS: A proprietary database that contained work place absence, disability and workers' compensation data in addition to prescription drug and medical claims was used to answer the objectives. Employees with a medical claim with an ICD-9 code for GERD or PUD were identified from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2000. A cohort of controls was identified for the same time period using the method of frequency matching on age, gender, industry type, occupational status, and employment status. Work absence rates and health care costs were compared between the groups after adjusting for demo graphic, and employment differences using analysis of covariance models. RESULTS: There were significantly lower (p < 0.05) prescription, and outpatient costs in the controls compared to the disease groups, although the eta-square values were very low. The mean work absence attributed to sick days was 2.8 (+/- 2.3) for controls, 3.4 (+/- 2.5) for GERD, 3.2 (+/- 2.6) for PUD, and 3.2 (+/- 2.3) days for GERD + PUD. For work loss, a significantly higher (p < 0.05) rate of adjusted all-cause absenteeism and sickness-related absenteeism were observed between the disease groups versus the controls. In particular, controls had an average of 1.2 to 1.6 days and 0.4 to 0.6 lower all-cause and sickness-related absenteeism compared to the disease groups. The incremental economic impact projected to a hypothetical employed population was estimated to be $3441 for GERD, $1374 for PUD, and $4803 for GERD + PUD per employee per year compared to employees without these diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Direct medical cost and work absence in employees with GERD, PUD and GERD + PUD represent a significant burden to employees and employers.

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PubMed2003

Impact of stress reduction on negative school behavior in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stress reduction via the Transcendental Meditation program on school rule infractions in adolescents. METHODS: Forty-five African American adolescents (ages 15-18 years) with high normal systolic blood pressure were randomly assigned to either Transcendental Meditation (n = 25) or health education control (n = 20) groups. The meditation group engaged in 15-min sessions at home and at school each day for 4 months. The control group was presented 15-min sessions of health education at school each day for 4 months. Primary outcome measures were changes in absenteeism, school rule infractions and suspension days during the four-month pretest period prior to randomization compared with the four-month intervention period. RESULTS: Comparing the pretest and intervention periods, the meditation group exhibited a mean decrease of 6.4 absentee periods compared to an increase of 4.8 in the control group (p <.05). The meditation group exhibited a mean decrease of 0.1 infractions over the four months compared to an increase of 0.3 in the control group (p <.03). There was a mean reduction of 0.3 suspension days due to behavior-related problems in the meditation group compared to an increase of 1.2 in the control group (p <.04). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the Transcendental Meditation program conducted in the school setting has a beneficial impact upon absenteeism, rule infractions, and suspension rates in African American adolescents.

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PubMed2005

A pilot study of the effectiveness of a school-based influenza vaccination program.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a school-based influenza immunization program. METHODS: Pupils and their families from 3 demographically similar elementary schools participated in this pilot, unblinded, controlled intervention study. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist) was made available to all eligible pupils in 1 target school during regular school hours. Two schools where vaccine was not offered served as control schools. All families from the 3 study schools were sent an anonymous questionnaire requesting 7-day recall data on fever or respiratory illness (FRI)-related medical visits, medications purchased, and days of school or paid work lost during the peak influenza week. Changes in weekly pupil absenteeism were also examined. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-five (40%) of the target school pupils received vaccine, of whom >50% were vaccinated < or =3 weeks before the influenza outbreak period. Questionnaires were returned by 43% to 51% of households. Significant (45-70%) relative reductions in FRI-related outcomes, including doctor visits by adults or children, prescription or other medicines purchased, and family schooldays or workdays missed, were observed for target school households, compared with control school households. The increases in absenteeism rates during the influenza outbreak period, compared with baseline rates earlier in the fall, were not significantly different between target and control schools. Within the target school, however, the increase in absenteeism rates was significantly smaller for the FluMist-vaccinated pupils, compared with the non-FluMist-vaccinated pupils. CONCLUSIONS: This school-based influenza immunization program was associated with significant reductions in FRI-related outcomes in households of pupils attending an intervention school. These results might have underestimated the potential impact of FluMist, because the majority of children received intraepidemic vaccination.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1998

Effects of a Dutch work-site wellness-health program: the Brabantia Project.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined a project designed to improve the health and wellness of employees of Brabantia, a Dutch manufacturer of household goods, by means of lifestyle changes and changes in working conditions. METHODS: The workers at one Brabantia site constituted the experimental group, and the workers from two other sites formed the control group. Biomedical variables, lifestyles, general stress reactions, and quality of work were measured identically in both groups at baseline and 1, 2, and 3 years later. During this period, there was continuous registration of absenteeism. RESULTS: The interventions brought about favorable short-term changes in terms of health risks, and there were stable effects on working conditions (especially decision latitude) and absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of interventions directed at both lifestyles and the work environment can produce extensive and stable effects on health-related variables, wellness, and absenteeism.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2005

Improving health, safety, and profits in extended hours operations (shiftwork).

Circadian Technologies, Inc. (CIRCADIAN) is an international consulting firm that for over 20 yr has helped employees better cope with shiftwork, while ensuring their employers reduce costs and maximize profits. This paper describes two of the methods employed to reduce accidents, absenteeism, and turnover, while improving morale and productivity in extended hour operations (shiftwork). Shiftworkers rarely receive on-the-job training to help them cope better with the rigors of working nights, evenings, and early mornings. A pre- and post-training study by CIRCADIAN demonstrated improvements in health and fatigue indices, and an increase in daytime sleep length. Companies who provide shiftwork lifestyle training also have lower rates of absenteeism and turnover compared to companies that do not provide training. The second intervention described in this paper is a novel method of shift scheduling. There are thousands of potential schedules, so how does a company choose the best schedule for their facility? The answer lies in allowing employees to be involved in the process of selection. This results in a workforce that experiences less fatigue, turnover and absenteeism, and higher morale.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1994

Asthma and wheezing as the cause of school absence.

A survey was conducted on children attending 30 primary schools (15 each for boys ad girls) in Al-Ain City of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to assess the impact of asthma on school absenteeism. There are 28,447 primary school children (50% boys and 50% girls) aged 6-14 years in the Al-Ain Educational District, all of whose school health records were investigated with respect to school absence caused by asthma during the academic year 1991-1992. Results showed that overall 1910 (6.7%) pupils were diagnosed as having asthma and wheezing during the preceding year by school doctors and nurses. Out of 14,217 boys, 1146 (8.1%) had asthma and wheezing, and 764 of 14,230 girls (5.4%) had the same condition. Overall 1,255 (4.9%) pupils were absent from school for at least 1 day during the year. Of 1146 boys with wheezing or asthma, 707 (62%) missed at least 1 day of school due to asthma, and of 764 girls who were asthmatic or wheezing, 548 (72%) missed school for at least 1 day in the year. There was a very highly statistically significant difference between sexes of children who were asthmatic or wheezing and missed school at least 1 day (p < 0.0001). Absenteeism most commonly occurred during spring for both boys (42%) and girls (45%). Absence from school due to asthma occurred least during autumn for both boys (26%) and girls (22%). This study confirms that asthma is a common chronic disease among primary school children in Al-Ain, UAE, and is a common cause of absenteeism from school.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ocular findings seen among the staff of an institution in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The degree to which ocular morbidity affects workers productivity in the developing countries has not been studied adequately. A federal government research institute based in Lagos introduced an annual health screen for all its workers, which included eye tests. This provided an opportunity to study the pattern of ocular conditions among workers who were 30 years and above, and to determine the effect of eye diseases on the workers productivity. STUDY DESIGN: Detailed eye examination including refraction, was done on every respondent at the institution's clinic by an ophthalmologist. A questionnaire on ocular health status and occupational history was administered independently by an ophthalmic nurse. Sickness absenteeism, use of the clinic were obtained from clinic records, and the results were analysed. RESULTS: The common ocular conditions were uncorrected or poorly corrected refractive error, uncorrected or poorly corrected presbyopia and allergic. conjunctivitis. Glaucoma, maculopathy and optic atrophy were causes of severe visual impairment or blindness in 1.9 % of the subjects. Absenteeism and clinic use were more common in subjects with ocular morbidity than those with non-ocular morbidity. Subjects with ocular morbidity had more illnesses, absenteeism and used the clinic more. CONCLUSION: Ocular problems which reduce worker's productivity are prevalent among the staff of the institution studied. They are mostly unrecognised.

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PubMed2006

Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between work-organization factors (job control, job demands, and workload measures) and the risk of lower-body musculoskeletal injury among health care workers. METHODS: A four-year, retrospective cohort study of 3769 health care workers was carried out in one acute care hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A job-exposure matrix was constructed for the work-organization factors from survey and administrative data and assigned to workers on the basis of their occupation and department of employment. Musculoskeletal injuries resulting in workers' compensation claims were ascertained from the injury database of the hospital's Occupational Health and Safety Department. RESULTS: In the final Poisson models adjusted for demographic and biomechanical factors, an increased risk for compensated musculoskeletal injuries of the lower back and lower limb was related to low job control [relative risk (RR) 1.64, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08-2.49] and workload defined by working during periods of high absenteeism within a department (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.61-2.98). The risk also increased with more biomechanical demands in an occupation and with a recent previous injury. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that work-organization characteristics (job control and workload) were associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries resulting in a compensation claim. These associations remained after the effect of demographic and biomechanical factors was taken into consideration. The association with workload measured by departmental levels of absenteeism should be explored further in future studies as reverse causality (musculoskeletal symptoms resulting in absenteeism) could not be fully ruled out in the current study.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1992

Organizational culture: does it affect employee and organizational outcomes?

This study determined the type of organizational culture (bureaucratic, innovative, or supportive), and determined the relationships among organizational commitment, and behavioural outcomes (turnover, absenteeism, and productivity) in hospital foodservice departments. The sample included 423 foodservice employees from nine hospitals in eastern Canada and nine hospitals in East Tennessee. Two research instruments were used for data collection. The historical data instrument, completed by the department director, obtained data to calculate productivity, turnover, and absenteeism rates. The four-part employee instrument included the 24-item Organizational Culture Index, the 15-item Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, five questions to determine perceptions of job satisfaction, and demographic items. Multiple linear regression analysis tested relationships among variables. The predominant culture was bureaucratic (14.9 +/- 4.3 of a possible 24). Means were lower for innovative (13.2 +/- 4.3) and supportive (12.7 +/- 5.0) cultures. Supportive and innovative cultures had positive relationships with both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Organizational culture was not related to turnover, absenteeism, or productivity. Mean productivity was 3.8 +/- 3.2 meals per labour hour, ranging from 0.8 to 15.1. Employees rated satisfaction with co-workers highest, and satisfaction with pay lowest. These findings will help hospital foodservice managers understand the relationship of culture to organizational and employee outcomes; changing culture may improve desired outcomes.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2001

The effects of a roster schedule change from 8- to 12-hour shifts on health and safety in a mining operation.

The current study examined the impact on employee health and safety of changes to the roster system of an Australian coal mine. Absenteeism and incident frequency rate data were collected over a 33-month period that covered three different roster schedules, an 8-hour system, a 12-hour system and a 12-hour system incorporating unregulated overtime. The first change was implemented after consultation with the employee population, whereas the second was not. There were no significant negative effects of the 12-hour pattern, when compared to the 8-hour system. However, when unregulated and excessive overtime was introduced as part of the second round of changes, absenteeism rates were increased in one sector of the mine. The maintenance sector was subject to a significant increase in absenteeism rates, which may have been attributable to the excessive overtime required of the workers in that area. It is important that overtime be strictly monitored and that the employee population are involved in the process of roster change.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2006

Impact of a musculoskeletal disability management program on medical costs and productivity in a large manufacturing company.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a program to reduce musculoskeletal disability-related absenteeism at a North American manufacturing facility. STUDY DESIGN: Staged communication and educational interventions targeting physicians to improve care of musculoskeletal conditions and reduce related absenteeism. METHODS: The program was implemented in three 1-year stages. The first stage required physicians to complete assessment forms for employees claiming disability because of musculoskeletal injuries. The second stage added physician education programs focusing on current clinical guidelines. The third stage incorporated local physician education about the facility's onsite physical therapy program. Annual number of work-related injuries, days lost per injury and per scheduled full-time-equivalent (FTE) employee, light-duty days per injury, average annual indemnity per FTE, indemnity per injury, medical costs per FTE, and medical costs per injury were examined to determine the program's effectiveness. RESULTS: Overall productivity improved by a mean of 12.5 days per injured employee. Mean days lost per work-related injury decreased from 35.1 to 27.6. Number of light-duty days increased from 6.1 to 11.1 per work-related injury. Mean annual indemnity per work-related injury decreased from $9327 to $4493; mean annual medical costs per work-related injury decreased from $4848 to $2679. The annual incidence of musculoskeletal injuries declined by up to 50%. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention was associated with reduced musculoskeletal disability-related absenteeism and increased productivity. The program reduced medical costs per work-related injury and improved the company's communications and relationship with local physicians.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial job factors and symptoms from the locomotor system--a multicausal analysis.

The effects of physical and psychosocial work environment factors on emotions, psychosomatic and endocrine (cortisol and testosterone) states, back pain, symptoms of degenerative joint disease, and absenteeism for sickness, were studied in 147 men and 60 women in six occupations representing widely different physical and psychological activities. In most subjects, measurements were carried out twice to four times over one year. Statistical analyses were performed of the associations between different factor levels, such as age, gender, height, body mass index, and physical stressors at work. It was found that psychological work demands were associated with physiological indicators of strain (plasma cortisol and self-reported muscle tension) and that self-reported muscle tension was associated with several emotional reactions as well as with symptoms from the back, neck and shoulders. Little possibility for decision-making was associated with a high rate of absenteeism for sickness. In men, a high plasma testosterone level was associated with self-reported muscle tension. The results indicate that work environment factors influence mood, bodily tension and somatic symptoms, but that load on the locomotor system and opportunity to influence decisions play an important and more direct role in absenteeism for sickness.

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