BACKGROUND The history of sickness absence has been found to predict future sickness absence. AIMS To establish the review period of historical sickness absence data that is needed to predict future sickness absence. METHODS The individual number of days and episodes of sickness absence were ascertained for 762 hospital employees from 2004 to 2008 inclusive. Past sickness absence was includ...

Introduction Sickness absence is a major public health problem. Research on sickness absence focuses on interventions aimed at expediting return to work. However, we need to know more about sustaining employees at work after return to work. Therefore, this study investigated the recurrence of sickness absence according to diagnosis. Methods We analyzed the registered sickness absence data of 13...

OBJECTIVES Little is known regarding incidence and recurrence of sickness absence in self-employed. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the number of prior episodes of sickness absence on the risk of subsequent periods of sickness absence in higher educated self-employed. METHODS In a historic register study based on the files of a Dutch private disability insurance...

OBJECTIVES Sickness absence in workplaces may reflect working conditions. It may also reflect a "healthy hire effect," i.e., that workplaces recruit individuals with experience of sickness absence differently. The purpose of the study was to determine if a history of sickness absence among recruits is associated with the average level of sickness absence in workplaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS In...

BACKGROUND In the health and care sector, sickness absence and sickness presenteeism are frequent phenomena and constitute a field in need of exploration. Attitudes towards sickness absence involve also attitudes towards sickness presenteeism, i.e. going to work while sick, confirmed by previous studies. Sickness behavior, reflecting attitudes on work absence, could differ between countries and...