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PubMed1990

[Contribution to the study of the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases in our country and their occupational impact].

In a workforce of 8,149 workers, we reviewed the sick leave certificates issued over a period of 1 year. Amongst the absenteeism resulting from common diseases, 9.28% were of rheumatic nature (the second cause being respiratory viral infections). Furthermore, these rheumatic complaints were responsible for 14.66% days absenteeism from work, with a mean duration of 38.17 days, which was longer than for any of the other causes. In respect of accidents in the work place, 16.17% were influenced by rheumatic problems. These resulted in 18.77% days absenteeism with a mean duration of 33.94 days, which was greater than that relating to all other accidents. The total cost was close to 1.600 million pesetas.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1995

[Study of short-term unfitness for work because of common illness among primary care management employees].

OBJECTIVES: To find the level of absenteeism among workers in the primary care management of Murcia, along with their distribution by professional category, health area, age and gender; and (2) find the causes of absenteeism and the relationship between these causes and the number of days lost. DESIGN: A descriptive, retrospective, population-based study. SETTING: Primary care management in Murcia. POPULATION: The management staff in Murcia consisted of 1,225 employees, who overall had 610 short-term periods of unfitness for work (SUW) due to common illness and accidents not at work, between October 1st, 1992 and October 1st, 1993. The variables studied were: age, gender, professional category, area where they worked, reason for and length of SUW and type of care. MAIN RESULTS: Index of absenteeism (IA) = 0.50, index of Seriousness (IS) = 40.75, Index of Incapacity (IL) = 18.12 and overall rate (OR) = 4.96. We found a large amount of SUW "without diagnosis": 104 cases (17.04%), which was the second most frequent cause behind respiratory complaints (23.77%). The IS were high in pathologies of the circulatory system, mental illness and neoplasias. CONCLUSIONS: The length of SUW (IS) is not influenced by any of the variables studied, excepting the specific cause of the SUW. II and IA are affected by the model of care (greater in the traditional type, p < 0.05), the health area where they work (p < 0.001) and professional category (p < 0.001). The filling out the sickness note must be improved in order to lessen the number of SUWs "without diagnosis".

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1994

[Treatment and prevention of injuries in meat industry workers].

The hand woundings among the meat industry workers are the main cause of high rates of work accident-related sick absenteeism. That can be proved by comparing sick absenteeism rates in other production plants. An increased work accident-related sick absenteeism results from the fact that a knife is the main tool used by workers employed in such kind of production. Protective gloves used in the past did not decrease the number of hand woundings because of their poor quality. The change in salaries of the sick because of hand wounding decreased considerably the number of accidents. However, that can contribute to harmful dissimulation from the hygienic and epidemiological points of view.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1994

[Intervention against sick-leave in an industrial company].

We have studied the effect of an intervention programme to reduce absenteeism due to illness at a Norwegian industrial enterprise. The sample comprised 100 production line workers at a Norwegian electronic equipment manufacturing company. The measures included bringing the absenteeism to light (awareness raising), improving the working environment and supporting employees on sick leave. This type of absenteeism dropped from 11.7% in the year before the intervention to 8.4% during the year of intervention (p < 0.01), and was 8.7% the year after. Sick leave among the control group (about 210 production workers) was 8.5%, 10.0% and 9.7% for the three corresponding years. The study indicates that sick leave among the employees at an enterprise can be reduced through cooperation between the company health service, the management and the employees themselves.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1997

Cost benefits of ergonomic intervention in a hospital: a preliminary study using Oxenburgh's productivity model.

This case study of absenteeism amongst nurses was carried out using the productivity model of Oxenburgh (1991). Data on absenteeism amongst nurses were collected from one private hospital. Areas of high risk of injury were identified and the presence of ergonomic risk factors determined. The productivity model was used to calculate the costs of absenteeism in terms of actual rates of pay and loss of productivity. Potential benefits resulting from ergonomic improvements to the work environment were estimated using the productivity model. The model predicted that even modest reductions in injury would justify the additional expenditure in a relatively short period of time. Further investigations of injuries to nurses in both State and Private Sector Hospitals seem to be justified.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2006

The breeding system of wild red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra): a preliminary report.

Captive studies have shown that ruffed lemurs (Varecia) have an unusual suite of reproductive traits combined with extremely high maternal reproductive costs. These traits include the bearing of litters, nesting of altricial young, and absentee parenting. To characterize the breeding system of this enigmatic lemur, reproductive traits must be contextualized in the wild. Here, I provide a preliminary report of mating and infant care in one community of wild red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra). Observations span a 15-month period covering two birth seasons and one mating season on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Factors that are not possible to replicate in captivity are reported, such as mating pattern, natality and mortality rates, the location of nests within the home range, and the structuring of infant care within a natural community. V. rubra at Andranobe have a fission-fusion, multifemale-multimale grouping pattern and a polygamous mating system. They do not mate monogamously or live strictly in family-based groups as suggested by previous workers. During the first 2 months of life, nests and infant stashing localities are situated within each mother's respective core area, and inhabitants of each core area within the communal home range provide care for young. As part of their absentee parenting system, infants are left in concealed, protected, and supportive spots high in the canopy, while mothers travel distantly. This practice is termed 'infant stashing'. Alloparenting appears to be an integral part of V. rubra's overall reproductive strategy in the wild, as it was performed by all age-sex classes. Among the alloparental behaviors observed were infant guarding, co-stashing, infant transport, and allonursing. Alloparenting and absentee parenting may mitigate high maternal reproductive costs. Furthermore, V. rubra may have a breeding system in which genetic partners (i.e., mating partners) do not always correspond to infant care-providers. Combined with recently available information on the behavioral ecology of wild ruffed lemurs, this preliminary report suggests directions for in-depth studies on Varecia's breeding system.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The effect of hand hygiene on illness rate among students in university residence halls.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated a connection between hand sanitization and infection control in numerous settings such as extended care facilities, schools, and hospitals. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of both a hand-hygiene message campaign and the use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer in decreasing the incidence of upper-respiratory illness among students living in university residence halls. METHOD: This study involved a total of 430 students recruited from 4 residence halls during the fall semester at the University of Colorado at the Boulder campus. Dormitories were paired into control and product groups. In the product groups, alcohol gel hand-sanitizer dispensers were installed in every room, bathroom, and dining hall. The data were statistically analyzed for the differences between product and control groups in reported symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism from classes. RESULTS: The overall increase in hand-hygiene behavior and reduction in symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism between the product group and control group was statistically significant. Reductions in upper respiratory-illness symptoms ranged from 14.8% to 39.9%. Total improvement in illness rate was 20%. The product group had 43% less missed school/work days. CONCLUSION: Hand-hygiene practices were improved with increased frequency of handwashing through increasing awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, and the use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in university dormitories. This resulted in fewer upper respiratory-illness symptoms, lower illness rates, and lower absenteeism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Framing effects on expectations, decisions, and side effects experienced: the case of influenza immunization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of using positive or negative frames to describe influenza vaccine benefits and side effects on patients' expectations, decisions, decisional conflict, and reported side effects. METHODS: 292 previously unimmunized patients with chronic respiratory or cardiac disease were randomly assigned to receive benefit/risk information that was framed: (1) positively as the percentage who remain free of influenza and have no vaccine side effects, or (2) negatively as the percentage who acquire influenza and have vaccine side effects. Questionnaires elicited expectations, decisions, and decisional conflict. Vaccines were telephoned 3 days later for a self-report of local and systemic side effects and work absenteeism. RESULTS: Both groups had similar immunization rates and decisional conflict scores. The positive frame group had lower and more realistic expectations of vaccine side effects, fewer systemic side effects, and less work absenteeism (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous studies of health care workers, framing did not influence patients' decisions, possibly due to the patients' awareness of their higher risk of influenza complications and greater desire to follow recommendations. The common practice of using negative frames when describing probabilities of side effects may need to be reexamined, considering its deleterious influence on self-reported side effects and work absenteeism.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Follow-up study of the use of antihypertensive drug treatment and of the population treated.

We carried out a study describing the extent and patterns of use of antihypertensive drugs and identifying common diseases in a cohort of workers. The population was monitored on a yearly basis by a questionnaire to assess the use of antihypertensive drugs. The extent and causes of absenteeism for medical reasons and diagnoses of cancer were taken from systematic records from the company. Four cross-sectional analyses covering a period of 5 years are presented. For the 17,244 respondents in 1990--12,731 men aged 41 to 51 years and 4,513 women aged 36 to 51 years--the prevalence of antihypertensive drug use was 6.5%, and 5 years later, antihypertensive drug use had doubled. This increase involved calcium channel inhibitors in particular. In all analyses, excess absenteeism for all health-related disorders was observed among those treated with antihypertensive drugs compared with the remainder of the population, who were almost all nonhypertensive: 44% v 34% (P < .000) in 1990, 42% v 34% (P < .000) in 1991, 41% v 34% (P < .000) in 1993, and 37% v 29% (P < .000) in 1994. Psychiatric disorders and fatigue were among the most frequent causes of absenteeism and were more frequent in individuals treated with antihypertensive drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Protection from natural infection after live influenza virus immunization in an open population.

Live attenuated influenza vaccine containing the recombinant of A/Victoria/3/75 with A/PR/8/34 virus was administered to healthy adults in a field trial aimed at evaluating protection provided by immunization. The study was designed to measure the effect of vaccination on absenteeism from respiratory disease during a natural influenza epidemic. A total of 2115 male employees of the public transport service of Rome volunteered to participate in the trial, 1050 and 1065 receiving vaccine and placebo respectively, in a randomized blind fashion. Vaccination procedure was completed by the end of December 1976. A small-sized outbreak of influenza, due to a viral strain antigenically homologous to the vaccine, occurred during the month of February 1977. Analysis of absenteeism data, classified according to medical certificate, indicated that morbidity from respiratory disease was reduced in vaccinees compared with controls during the epidemic month; the rate of increase of morbidity compared with that of the preceding month was then three times lower in vaccinees than in controls and the difference in absenteeism between the two groups greatly exceeded the ordinary fluctuation that was observed during non-epidemic periods.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and impact of symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Few studies have focused on the impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease on general health and on work absenteeism. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease in two samples of Italian employees. We interviewed 424 subjects of S. Matteo Hospital staff and 344 subjects of the Military Factory of Pavia regarding the frequency and severity of heartburn and acid regurgitation during the last 12 months. Subjects were specifically asked whether symptoms interfered with the quality of work activities or determined work absenteeism. In all, 91% of eligible subjects responded. The prevalence rate per 100 of any heartburn or regurgitation experienced at least monthly was 21. This value increased to 45% taking into consideration symptoms experienced occasionally. Mild or moderate symptoms were more frequent than severe symptoms (P < 0.001). Only 2.6% of subjects answered that symptoms have a negative influence on the quality of their work. No work absenteeism was recorded. The study confirms that typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms are common conditions, but mainly of mild or moderate degree.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Expectant management of first-trimester miscarriage in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment efficacy and patient compliance in women with an early miscarriage managed expectantly in routine clinical practice. METHODS: During 1995-98, 263 consecutive women who sought medical attention for an ongoing or incomplete miscarriage (gestational length <99 days), and who were circulatory stable and had a gestational residue measuring 15-50 mm (anterio-posterior, A-P diameter) on ultrasound examination were invited to participate in this study. Hemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), progesterone and Rh-factor were analyzed and a questionnaire regarding the pregnancy, duration of genital bleeding and number of days of absenteeism was completed on admission and after 1 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: Expectant management was considered to be complete (vaginal ultrasound, gestational residue <15 mm after 1 week) in 83%. The patients who were managed successfully by expectant management had a smaller gestational residue (p = 0.026) and a lower mean serum progesterone level (p = 0.025) on referral than in the group of women with failed expectant management. A gynecologic infection was diagnosed in seven cases (3%) and five of the infections were in the group of women who underwent dilatation and curettage. No patient required a blood transfusion. The mean number of days of absenteeism was 3.2 days. There were no differences in Hb levels before or after treatment, number of bleeding days or absenteeism between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Expectant management of clinically stable patients with symptoms of early miscarriage is safe, efficient and well tolerated.

Abortion, Incomplete↗
PubMed2003

Social insurance claims as morbidity estimates: sickness or absence?

Historians have closely examined sickness claims by members of British friendly societies. Hoping that insurance records may offer insight into past health conditions, they have generally found that sickness rates increased as mortality rates declined. Aggregated fund level data from a variety of continental sickness insurance programmes from 1885 to 1908 cast doubt on this research strategy. Mortality rates fell among all funds with available data, but absenteeism trended in both directions in different groups of sick funds. Among funds that took in workers who were required to buy sickness insurance, absenteeism rose over time. Among funds in which membership was voluntary, absenteeism fell. To explain these differing trends, I note that voluntary funds attracted older and sicker workers and that the resulting financial problems made it difficult for them to pay out benefits. Social insurance claim records are so heavily influenced by governmental requirements and financial concerns that they may be better understood as records of worker absence rather than of morbidity.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMed2004

Predicting the two-year course of unexplained fatigue and the onset of long-term sickness absence in fatigued employees: results from the Maastricht Cohort Study.

Because of the serious adverse consequences of unexplained fatigue, it is important to identify factors that determine the prognosis of unexplained fatigue and the onset of long-term sickness absence in fatigued employees. Analyses were based on the Maastricht Cohort Study, a prospective population-based cohort study among more than 12,000 employees. Severely fatigued employees who were not on sick leave (n = 2108) were selected at baseline and followed up at six time points during the course of 2 years. Point prevalences of severe fatigue (59% to 63%) and long-term sickness absence (1.8% to 3.1%) among participants were fairly stable at all consecutive time points. Lower levels of fatigue severity, work-related exhaustion and anxious mood, absence of conflicts with colleagues, and good self-rated health at baseline were predictors of the onset of recovery from fatigue in survival analyses. Older age, low decision authority, female sex, working in nightshift, a physical attribution of fatigue, and a history of absenteeism were predictors of the onset of long-term absenteeism. The course of unexplained fatigue in employees is characterized by remission and relapse in time while the absolute risk of long-term absenteeism is small. Given the broad range of predictors, it appears that fatigue and long-term sickness absence entangle different underlying processes. Our findings underscore the notion that prevention and treatment of fatigue should be aimed at health perception and emotional well-being.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Significance of Rome II-defined functional constipation in Taiwan and comparison with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology and impact of functional constipation on Asians remain unclear. AIM: To determine the prevalence of functional constipation, its social/medical impact, and its distinction from constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS) in Taiwan. METHODS: A Rome II questionnaire was administered to an apparently healthy adult Chinese population (n = 2865). RESULTS: The prevalence of functional constipation was 8.5% and it was 2.7% for C-IBS. The functional constipation subjects were predominantly female and had excessive gastrointestinal-related doctor visits, absenteeism and sleep disturbance compared with controls (P < 0.01). Among functional constipation subjects, approximately 40% were 'consulters' with excessive doctor consultations, absenteeism and sleep disturbance. Female gender, the presence of sleep difficulty and higher constipation symptom scores were predictive of their consultation behaviour (P < 0.05). No differences existed in demographic variables, doctor consultations and absenteeism between 172 functional constipation and 54 C-IBS subjects. However, the C-IBS subjects experienced more severe constipation symptoms and sleep disturbance than functional constipation subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Functional constipation in Taiwan is comparable with that in other countries. The clinical presentation of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome differ somewhat from that of functional constipation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cognitive-behavioural treatment for workers with chronic spinal pain: a matched and controlled cohort study in Sweden.

An ambulatory multimodal cognitive-behavioural treatment programme (MMCBT) for Swedish workers with chronic spinal pain was formally evaluated. The design was a matched cohort study with three repeated measures done in two groups of 35 referred patients (one exposed to MMCBT and controls exposed to usual care). The MMCBT package includes standardised modules of physical treatment, cognitive-behavioural treatment, education of worker patients, and education of subjects' supervisors. The primary outcome variables assessed were absenteeism, disability, pain, and depression. Because of a change in Swedish sick leave compensation laws affecting records of absence during the study period, absenteeism could not be reliably measured among controls. The trend, however, suggested a reduction of absenteeism among the subjects in the MMCBT cohort. The findings for disability, pain, and depression all showed clinically important and significant beneficial changes (ANOVA for repeated measures: disability p = 0.05; pain p = 0.001; depression p = 0.01). The direction of the improvements and the size of effect were coherent and clinically plausible. The benefits were only among the women in the study. These comprised 74% of each group. Further research on larger sample sizes and in cohorts more representative of the whole country are needed to confirm these encouraging findings and to explore how the benefits might be extended to men.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Economic impact of workplace productivity losses due to allergic rhinitis compared with select medical conditions in the United States from an employer perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost of lost productivity in the workplace due to allergic rhinitis compared to other selected medical conditions from an employer perspective. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8267 US employees at 47 employer locations who volunteered to participate in health/wellness screenings. MEASUREMENTS: The Work Productivity Short Inventory was used to assess the impact of a predefined group of health conditions on workplace productivity for the previous 12 months. Both absenteeism and presenteeism (lost productivity while at work) were recorded. Costs were calculated using a standard hourly wage. RESULTS: Allergic rhinitis was the most prevalent of the selected conditions; 55% of employees reported experiencing allergic rhinitis symptoms for an average of 52.5 days, were absent 3.6 days per year due to the condition, and were unproductive 2.3 h per workday when experiencing symptoms. The mean total productivity (absenteeism + presenteeism) losses per employee per year were 593 US dollars for allergic rhinitis, 518 US dollars for high stress, 277 US dollars for migraine, 273 US dollars for depression, 269 US dollars for arthritis/rheumatism, 248 US dollars for anxiety disorder, 181 US dollars for respiratory infections, 105 US dollars for hypertension or high blood pressure, 95 US dollars for diabetes, 85 US dollars for asthma, and 40 US dollars for coronary heart disease. The mean total productivity loss per employee per year due to caregiving was 102 US dollars for pediatric respiratory infections, 85 US dollars for pediatric allergies, 49 US dollars for Alzheimer's disease, and 42 US dollars for otitis media/earache. CONCLUSIONS: Allergies are major contributors to the total cost of health-related absenteeism and presenteeism. Payers and employers need to consider this when determining health benefits for employees.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of employees' perceptions of a healthy work environment.

PURPOSE: This study analyzed correlates of workers' perceptions of the extent to which their work environment is healthy and how these perceptions influence job satisfaction, employee commitment, workplace morale, absenteeism, and intent to quit. DESIGN: One-time cross-sectional telephone survey. SETTING: Canadian employees in 2000. SUBJECTS: A randomly chosen, nationally representative sample of 2500 employed respondents, using a household sampling frame. The response rate was 39.2%. Self-employed individuals were excluded, leaving a subsample of 2112 respondents. MEASURES: The dependent variable was the response to the item, "The work environment is healthy" (5-point strongly agree-strongly disagree Likert scale). Independent variables used in bivariate and ordinary least-squares regression analyses included sociodemographic characteristics, employment status, organizational characteristics, and scales that measured job demands, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, communication/social support, employee influence, and job resources. Perceptions of a healthy work environment were related to job satisfaction, commitment, morale (measured on a 5-point scale), number of self-reported absenteeism days in the past 12 months, and whether or not the respondent had looked for a job with another employer in the past 12 months. RESULTS: The strongest correlate of a healthy work environment was a scale of good communication and social support (beta = .27). The next strongest was a job demands scale (beta = -.15.) Employees in self-rated healthier work environments had significantly (p < 0.01) higher job satisfaction, commitment and morale, and lower absenteeism and intent to quit. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports a comprehensive model of workplace health that targets working conditions, work relationships, and workplace organization for health promotion interventions.

Adolescent↗