TY - JOUR
T1 - Sickness absenteeism, work performance, and healthcare use due to respiratory infections for shift and non-shift workers
AU - Middeldorp, Marit
AU - Loef, Bette
AU - van der Beek, Allard J.
AU - van Baarle, Debbie
AU - Proper, Karin I.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - This study aimed to compare sickness absenteeism, work performance, and healthcare use due to respiratory infections, as well as general sickness absenteeism and work performance between shift and non-shift workers. In this study, 589 shift and non-shift workers employed in hospitals were included. For 6 months, participants kept a daily record of their influenza-like illness/acute respiratory infection (ILI/ARI) symptoms using a diary application. After an episode of ILI/ARI symptoms ended, participants (n = 531) were questioned about their sickness absenteeism (occurrence and duration in hours), work performance (on a 10 point scale), and healthcare use during the ILI/ARI episode. At the end of the 6 months follow-up, participants (n = 498) were also asked about general sickness absenteeism and work performance in the past 4 weeks. Mixed-model and regression analyses were used to compare absenteeism, work performance, and healthcare use between shift and non-shift workers. No differences were found in sickness absenteeism [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.00 (95%‒Confidence Interval (CI): 0.61‒1.64)] and work performance [Regression coefficient (B) = −0.19 (95%‒CI: −0.65‒0.26)] due to ILI/ARI between shift and non-shift workers. In addition, healthcare use due to ILI/ARI was similar between shift and non-shift workers. Furthermore, similar general sickness absenteeism rates and work performance levels were found between shift and non-shift workers. As this is the first study that examined the associations with shift work due to ILI/ARI, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
AB - This study aimed to compare sickness absenteeism, work performance, and healthcare use due to respiratory infections, as well as general sickness absenteeism and work performance between shift and non-shift workers. In this study, 589 shift and non-shift workers employed in hospitals were included. For 6 months, participants kept a daily record of their influenza-like illness/acute respiratory infection (ILI/ARI) symptoms using a diary application. After an episode of ILI/ARI symptoms ended, participants (n = 531) were questioned about their sickness absenteeism (occurrence and duration in hours), work performance (on a 10 point scale), and healthcare use during the ILI/ARI episode. At the end of the 6 months follow-up, participants (n = 498) were also asked about general sickness absenteeism and work performance in the past 4 weeks. Mixed-model and regression analyses were used to compare absenteeism, work performance, and healthcare use between shift and non-shift workers. No differences were found in sickness absenteeism [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.00 (95%‒Confidence Interval (CI): 0.61‒1.64)] and work performance [Regression coefficient (B) = −0.19 (95%‒CI: −0.65‒0.26)] due to ILI/ARI between shift and non-shift workers. In addition, healthcare use due to ILI/ARI was similar between shift and non-shift workers. Furthermore, similar general sickness absenteeism rates and work performance levels were found between shift and non-shift workers. As this is the first study that examined the associations with shift work due to ILI/ARI, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
KW - Sickness absenteeism
KW - acute respiratory infection
KW - healthcare use
KW - healthcare worker
KW - influenza-like illness
KW - shift work
KW - work performance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092669931&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2020.1825468
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2020.1825468
M3 - Article
C2 - 33050768
SN - 0742-0528
VL - 37
SP - 1325
EP - 1334
JO - Chronobiology International
JF - Chronobiology International
IS - 9-10
ER -