[Factors related to sickness absenteeism among nursing personnel]

To analyze short-term leaves among the healthcare staff of a university hospital.

Study population included 965 nursing professionals active on 1 January 2000. Leaves up to 30 days in one year were analyzed. Sickness leaves (one-year aggregate), service demand, and diagnoses were described. Relative risk was estimated through multivariate analysis, using negative binomial distribution.

About 65% of workers generated 1,988 appointments, of which 68.6% lead to absence from work. The greatest demand occurred among nursing technicians, women, and statutory workers (OR=1.61; 1.47; 1.53 respectively). Over half the studied population (57.6%) had at least one absence. This corresponds to 87.8% of workers who had physician appointments. These workers generated a total 1,364 leaves of absence--1.41 per worker--and 5,279 workdays were missed. Multivariate analysis was carried out considering each gender separately. An effect was found only for work regime (RR=1.45 e RR=2.43) for both men and women.

A relationship exists between absenteeism and work regime. It is necessary to include other variables, such as time working for the company, shift, and number of children.