PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - W Eriksen
AU  - D Bruusgaard
AU  - S Knardahl
TI  - Work factors as predictors of sickness absence: a three month prospective study of nurses’ aides
AID  - 10.1136/oem.60.4.271
DP  - 2003 Apr 01
TA  - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
PG  - 271--278
VI  - 60
IP  - 4
4099  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/60/4/271.short
4100  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/60/4/271.full
SO  - Occup Environ Med2003 Apr 01; 60
AB  - Aims: To identify the work factors that predict sickness absence in nurses’ aides. Methods: The sample comprised 5563 Norwegian nurses’ aides, not on leave because of illness or pregnancy when they completed a mailed questionnaire in 1999. Of these, 4931 (88.6%) completed a second questionnaire three months later. The outcome measure was the three month incidence proportion of certified sickness absence (>3 days), as assessed by self reports at follow up. Results: Perceived lack of encouraging and supportive culture in the work unit (odds ratio (OR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 to 2.34), working in psychiatric and paediatric wards, having injured the neck in an accident, and health complaints were associated with higher risk of sickness absence, after adjustments for a series of physical, psychological, and organisational work factors, personal engagement in the work unit, demographic characteristics, and daily consumption of cigarettes. Having untraditional jobs (for nurses’ aides) (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.77), and engaging in aerobics or gym were associated with a lower risk of sickness absence. Conclusions: The study suggests that the three month effects of work factors on rates of certified sickness absence are modest in nurses’ aides. The most important work factor, in terms of predicting sickness absence, seems to be perceived lack of encouraging and supportive culture in the work unit.