Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on August 11, 2006
Occupational Medicine 2006 56(7):442-446; doi:10.1093/occmed/kql087
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Identifying workers at risk of sickness absence by questionnaire
1 ArboNed NV, PO Box 132, 8900 AC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
2 ArboNed NV, PO Box 141, 9700 AC Groningen, The Netherlands
3 Department of Social Medicine, University Medical Centre, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Background Sickness absence is an important economic problem, because of high costs and lost productivity. Determining factors associated with increased risk of sickness absence may lead to the development of preventive measures.
Aims To determine whether self-report questionnaires can identify those employees at risk of sickness absence
Methods Prospective study of 238 healthy administrative workers. Participants completed a questionnaire proven to be valid and consistent. The questionnaire consisted of 116 items about health, work and working conditions. Sickness absence was followed-up for a period of 1 year.
Results The questionnaires of 191 workers (80%) were suitable for analysis. The number of reported health complaints was significantly (P < 0.01) associated with sickness absence (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.32–3.61). Concentration problems were correlated with more frequent absences, and both nervous complaints and coping problems with longer duration. Age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93–0.99; P = 0.02) and job insecurity (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.47–0.98; P = 0.04) were negatively associated with sickness absence. Psychosocial and physical work factors were not associated with sickness absence.
Conclusions Questionnaires on health and work can identify employees at future risk of sickness absence. Workers who report multiple health complaints, especially concentration problems, nervous complaints or coping problems, may be at increased risk of sickness absence.
Keywords Health complaints; physical work factors; psychosocial work factors; risk factors for sickness absence; self-report questionnaires
Correspondence to: Corné A. M. Roelen, ArboNed NV, PO Box 132, 8900 AC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 58 2339233; fax: +31 58 2131823; e-mail: corne.roelen{at}arboned.nl