A Longitudinal Study on Trajectories of Night Work and Sickness Absence among Hospital Employees.
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SUBMITTER: Krutova O
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9265793 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:ObjectivesTo investigate the concurrent changes in part-time work and sickness absence (SA) in healthcare. Another aim was to investigate the role of age and sex on different concurrent trajectory groups.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPublic hospital districts (n=10) and cities (n=11) in Finland.ParticipantsPayroll-based objective working hour data of the healthcare sector in Finland for 28 969 employees in 2008-2019 were used. The final sample included those working shifts with 3 consecutive years of data and without baseline (≥14 days) SA.Primary outcomesPart-time work (yes or no) and months of SA.MeasuresGroup-based trajectory modelling to identify concurrent changes in part-time work, and months of SA while controlling the time-variant amount of night work and multinomial regression models for relative risk (RR) with 95% CIs were used.ResultsFour-group trajectory model was the best solution: group 1 (61.2%) with full-time work and no SA, group 2 (16.9%) with slowly increasing probability of part-time work and low but mildly increasing SA, group 3 (17.6%) with increasing part-time work and no SA, and group 4 (4.3%) with fluctuating, increasing part-time work and highest and increasing levels of SA. Men had a lower (RR 0.49-0.75) and older age groups had a higher likelihood (RRs 1.32-3.79) of belonging to trajectory groups 2-4.ConclusionsMost of the sample were in the trajectory group with full-time work and no SA. The probability of part-time work increased over time, linked with concurrent low increase or no SA. A minor group of employees had both an increased probability of part-time work and SA. Part-time work and other solutions might merit attention to promote sustainable working life among healthcare employees.
| S-EPMC10533668 | biostudies-literature
Project description:To examine the effect of night shift on salivary cortisol at awakening (C1), 30 min later (C2), and on the cortisol awakening response (CAR, the difference between C2 and C1). We compared shift and non-shift workers with a focus on the impact of worker chronotype. Our study included 66 shift-working females (mean age = 37.3 years, SD = 10.2) and 21 non-shift working females (mean age = 47.0 years, SD = 8.9). The shift workers collected their saliva samples at C1 and C2 on each two consecutive day shifts and night shifts. Non-shift workers collected their samples on two consecutive day shifts. We applied linear mixed-effects models (LMM) to determine the effect of night shift on CAR and log-transformed C1 and C2 levels. LMMs were stratified by chronotype group. Compared to non-shift workers, shift workers before day shifts (i.e. after night sleep) showed lower cortisol at C1 (exp [Formula: see text]=0.58, 95% CI 0.42, 0.81) but not at C2. In shift workers, the CARs after night shifts (i.e. after day sleep) were lower compared to CARs before day shifts ([Formula: see text]= - 11.07, 95% CI - 15.64, - 6.50). This effect was most pronounced in early chronotypes (early: [Formula: see text]= - 16.61, 95% CI - 27.87, - 5.35; intermediate: [Formula: see text]= - 11.82, 95% CI - 18.35, - 5.29; late: [Formula: see text]= - 6.27, 95% CI - 14.28, 1.74). Chronotype did not modify the association between night shift and CAR. In our population of shift workers, there was a mismatch between time of waking up and their natural cortisol peak at waking up (CAR) both during day and night shift duties.
| S-EPMC9021274 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe concept of social capital has its focus on cooperative relations in the workplace. This study investigates the association between social capital and sickness absence among workers in 41 work groups in the Danish dairy industry and examines the possible effects of an intervention on social capital in the workplace on sickness absence.MethodsA sample of 791 dairy workers working in 41 work groups that participated in an intervention study on social capital filled in a questionnaire on four subtypes of social capital, and social capital scores from individual participants were aggregated to the level of work groups. Sickness absence was measured at the level of work groups in company registers as the two-year average percentage of working time lost to sickness absence. Group-level associations between social capital and sickness absence were analyzed using multilevel linear regression analysis. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, group size, and random effects at the workplace level.ResultsWe found statistically significant associations between social capital within work groups, social capital in relation to the immediate manager, and social capital toward the workplace as a whole on the one side and sickness absence on the other side. We found no support for any effects of the intervention on sickness absence.ConclusionThe work group level of social capital is associated with the work group level of sickness absence. However, the intervention to enhance group-level social capital had no effect on reducing sickness absence in the intervention group.
| S-EPMC7303523 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundA sizeable body of research has demonstrated a relationship between organizational change and increased sickness absence. However, fewer studies have investigated what factors might mitigate this relationship. The aim of this study was to examine if and how the relationship between unit-level downsizing and sickness absence is moderated by three salient work factors: temporary contracts at the individual-level, and control and organizational commitment at the work-unit level.MethodsWe investigated the association between unit-level downsizing, each moderator and both short- and long-term sickness absence in a large Norwegian hospital (n = 21,085) from 2011 to 2016. Data pertaining to unit-level downsizing and employee sickness absence were retrieved from objective hospital registers, and moderator variables were drawn from hospital registers (temporary contracts) and the annual work environment survey (control and organizational commitment). We conducted a longitudinal multilevel random effects regression analysis to estimate the odds of entering short- (< = 8 days) and long-term (> = 9 days) sickness absence for each individual employee.ResultsThe results showed a decreased risk of short-term sickness absence in the quarter before and an increased risk of short-term sickness absence in the quarter after unit-level downsizing. Temporary contracts and organizational commitment significantly moderated the relationship between unit-level downsizing in the next quarter and short-term sickness absence, demonstrating a steeper decline in short-term sickness absence for employees on temporary contracts and employees in high-commitment units. Additionally, control and organizational commitment moderated the relationship between unit-level downsizing and long-term sickness absence. Whereas employees in high-control work-units had a greater increase in long-term sickness absence in the change quarter, employees in low-commitment work-units had a higher risk of long-term sickness absence in the quarter after unit-level downsizing.ConclusionsThe results from this study suggest that the relationship between unit-level downsizing and sickness absence varies according to the stage of change, and that work-related factors moderate this relationship, albeit in different directions. The identification of specific work-factors that moderate the adverse effects of change represents a hands-on foundation for managers and policy-makers to pursue healthy organizational change.
| S-EPMC7414577 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The contribution of physically demanding work to the developmental trajectories of sickness absence (SA) has seldom been examined. We analyzed the associations of 12 physical work exposures, individually and in combination, with SA trajectories among the occupationally active in the Finnish nationally representative Health 2000 survey. We included 3814 participants aged 30-59 years at baseline, when exposure history to work-related factors was reported. The survey and interview responses were linked with the annual number of medically confirmed SA spells through 2002-2008 from national registries. Trajectory analyses identified three SA subgroups: 1 = low (54.6%), 2 = slowly increasing (33.7%), and 3 = high (11.7%). After adjustments, sitting or use of keyboard >1 year was inversely associated with the high SA trajectory (odds ratio, OR, 0.57; 95% 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.43-0.77). The odds of belonging to the trajectory of high SA increased with an increasing number of risk factors, and was highest for those with ≥4 physical workload factors (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.99-3.69). In conclusion, these findings highlight the need to find ways to better maintain the work ability of those in physically loading work, particularly when there occurs exposure to several workload factors.
| S-EPMC6616391 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThere is inconsistent evidence that long working hours and night work are risk factors for sickness absence, but few studies have considered variation in the length of exposure time window as a potential source of mixed findings. We examined whether the association of long working hours and night work with sickness absence is dependent on the length of exposure to the working hour characteristics.MethodsWe analysed records of working hours, night work and sickness absence for a cohort of 9226 employees in one hospital district in Finland between 2008 and 2019. The exposure time windows ranged from 10 to 180 days, and we used Cox's proportional hazards models with time-dependent exposures to analyse the associations between working-hour characteristics and subsequent sickness absence.ResultsLonger working hours for a period of 10 to 30 days was not associated with the risk of sickness absence whereas longer working hours for a period of 40 to 180 days was associated with a lower risk of sickness absence. Irrespective of exposure time window, night work was not associated with sickness absence.ConclusionsIt is important to consider the length of exposure time window when examining associations between long working hours and sickness absence, whereas the association between night work and sickness absence is not similarly sensitive to exposure times.
| S-EPMC8571875 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Purpose To present an overview of the existing evidence on prognostic factors of (recurrent) sickness absence (SA) and return to work (RTW) among workers with a common mental disorder (CMD). This scoping review provides information about determinants for SA and RTW, which could be used to develop better interventions aimed at the prevention of SA and promotion of RTW among workers with a CMD. Methods Relevant articles were identified in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, and SINGLE up to October 2016. In order to be included, studies should provide insight into prognostic factors of SA or RTW of workers with a CMD. We classified all factors according to the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Results Our searches identified 2447 possible relevant articles, of which 71 were included for data extraction. There is consistent evidence in ≥3 studies that previous episodes of CMD, higher symptom severity, previous absenteeism, co-morbidity, high job demands, low job control, high job strain, female gender, lower educational level, smoking behavior, and low perceived general health are predictors of SA in people with CMDs. Earlier RTW is consistently predicted by lower symptom severity, having no previous absenteeism, younger age, and positive expectations concerning sick-leave duration or RTW. Conclusions The amount of research on determinants for SA and RTW in workers with CMD has increased dramatically in recent years, although most studies are from the Netherlands and Scandinavia. There are some research gaps identified in this scoping review that need further attention in primary and secondary studies. Based on the summary of the evidence, we provide guidance for policy, practice and research.
| S-EPMC6096498 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveAlthough sickness absence often is a process over time, most studies have treated the phenomenon as a discrete event and focused more on its causes than its consequences. We aimed to examine whether various patterns of previous long-term sickness absence were associated with current low perceived social support at work.MethodThis is a historical cohort study based on data from a population-based survey among Swedish employees (n=2581). The survey data were linked to official registries yielding data on sickness absence 1-7 years prior to the survey.ResultsThe main finding was that previous sickness absence was associated with current low perceived social support at work. The highest odds for low social support were found among those who had a stable high level of sickness absence. The two indicators of perceived social support employed were somewhat differently associated with previous sickness absence: Recency of absence showed to be of importance for general support at the workplace and the relationship with colleagues and superiors. Experiencing that one's immediate superior rarely or never regards one's view was, on the other hand, mainly related to having had a high level of sickness absence, irrespective of recency.ConclusionsOur results indicate that recency and extent of previous sickness absence are related to perceived social support at work. Future research on the relationship between social support and sickness absence should use repeated measurements and acknowledge the possible bidirectional relationship.
| S-EPMC4212179 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesData mining can complement traditional hypothesis-based approaches in characterizing unhealthy work exposures. We used it to derive a hypothesis-free characterization of working hour patterns in shift work and their associations with sickness absence (SA).MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, complete payroll-based work hours and SA dates were extracted from a shift-scheduling register from 2008 to 2019 on 6029 employees from a hospital district in Southwestern Finland. We applied permutation distribution clustering to time series of successive shift lengths, between-shift rest periods, and shift starting times to identify clusters of similar working hour patterns over time. We examined associations of clusters spanning on average 23 months with SA during the following 23 months.ResultsWe identified eight distinct working hour patterns in shift work: (i) regular morning (M)/evening (E) work, weekends off; (ii) irregular M work; (iii) irregular M/E/night (N) work; (iv) regular M work, weekends off; (v) irregular, interrupted M/E/N work; (vi) variable M work, weekends off; (vii) quickly rotating M/E work, non-standard weeks; and (viii) slowly rotating M/E work, non-standard weeks. The associations of these eight working-hour clusters with risk of future SA varied. The cluster of irregular, interrupted M/E/N work was the strongest predictor of increased SA (days per year) with an incidence rate ratio of 1.77 (95% confidence interval 1.74-1.80) compared to regular M/E work, weekends off.ConclusionsThis data-mining suggests that hypothesis-free approaches can contribute to scientific understanding of healthy working hour characteristics and complement traditional hypothesis-driven approaches.
| S-EPMC8259704 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWhile there is increasing literature on the health effects of work-life interference, few studies have investigated the relationship between a direct measure of work-life interference and objective sickness absence measures. The aim of this study is to investigate whether work-life interference is a risk factor for subsequent long-term sickness absence (LTSA).MethodsData were derived from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Data were linked to register data on LTSA (having at least one continuous period of medically certified sick leave exceeding 14 days) the following 2 years after each data collection wave. We applied generalized estimating equations, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The sample included 15 244 individuals (43.1% men and 56.9% women). Nearly a fifth of the sample (18.7%, n = 1110) started at least one period of LTSA at any point between 2010 and 2018.ResultsWork-life interference was found to be a risk factor for subsequent LTSA (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.44-1.67) even when adjusting for relevant factors including general health (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.29-1.51). We found no significant moderating effect of gender.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that work-life interference is a risk factor for subsequent LTSA for working men and women in Sweden.
| S-EPMC9159337 | biostudies-literature