English summary: IDENTIFICATION OF THE RISK OF SICKNESS ABSENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CARE THROUGH A HEALTH SURVEY

Background

We studied the associations between self-reported health problems and sickness absence from work. Sex, age, and occupational status were controlled as confounders.

Methods

4 695 employees from a single workplace received a health survey. Subjects who reported problems with future working ability, pain, impairment due to musculoskeletal problems, insomnia or insufficient sleep, or had a high depression score, were rated as having health problems. The results of the survey were combined with archival data on sickness absence during the six month follow-up. Logistic and gamma regression models were used in the statistical analysis of sickness absence data.

Results

The data of 1 396 females and 1 408 males were analysed. The prevalence of self-reported health problems increased with age. 23 % of subjects reported health problems, but these accounted for 49% of sickness absence. 52% of females and 24% of males had been off work due to sickness. Female gender, blue-collar occupational status and health problems increased, and age decreased the propensity to sickness absence. Health problems, female gender and age independently predicted the total count of sickness absence hours.

Conclusions

The presence of health problems predicted future sickness absence regardless of age, sex and occupational status. Employees with increased risk of sickness absence can be identified with a health survey. This could be useful in occupational health care for targeting interventions. After controlling for health problems and occupational status, young workers had a higher propensity for (any) sickness absence than older workers, which is a reflection of different health behaviour among young and old employees.

Simo Taimela

LT, eMBA, epidemiologian dosentti, toimitusjohtaja

Evalua International

simo.taimela@evalua.fi

Selina Justén

VTM, BSc tutkija

Evalua International

Jan Schugk

LL, Työterveys- ja työturvallisuusjohtaja

Nokia Group

Kari Mäkelä

LL, työterveyshuollon erikoislääkäri, yksikönjohtaja

Mehiläinen Oy, Työterveys Turku