Related Experiment Videos
Work ability and duration of certified sickness absence
1Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. harald.reiso@samfunnsmed.uio.no
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
|October 30, 2001
Summary
Patient-assessed work ability is a strong predictor of prolonged sickness absence duration. Factors like reduced ability, certain health conditions, and patient age influence absence length, guiding better management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Social Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing sickness absence duration is crucial for effective healthcare management.
- Work ability, a patient's perceived capacity to perform job tasks, is increasingly recognized as a key health determinant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between patient-assessed work ability and the duration of certified sickness absence.
- To identify other predictors of sickness absence duration, including patient demographics, diagnoses, and healthcare utilization.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 549 patients with 549 episodes of certified sickness absence provided questionnaire data.
- Work ability was assessed using patient-reported scales.
- Duration of sickness absence was the primary outcome, analyzed using Cox regression models.
Main Results:
- Very much reduced work ability was significantly associated with longer sickness absence duration compared to moderately reduced ability.
- Musculoskeletal and psychological disorders correlated with longer absence, while respiratory disorders correlated with shorter absence.
- Older patient age (above 50) and the presence of non-medical factors were linked to prolonged sickness absence.
Conclusions:
- Patient-assessed work ability serves as a valuable prognostic indicator for prolonged certified sickness absence.
- Further research exploring outcomes like disability pensioning is recommended to refine the understanding of work ability.