[Descriptive Study of sickness absence in the health care sector of Catalonia (2009-2012)]

To describe the incidence and evolution of sickness absence (SA) for non-occupational and occupational illness/injury in the population of workers in Catalonian Health Centers based on the definition of a set of common indicators.

The study population consisted of 25,964 workers from 30 health centers in Catalonia, during 2009-2012. Information on SA episodes was obtained from records of the Directorate of Human Resources. SA indicators were defined, and SA incidence rates and temporal evolution were calculated, depending on the length and type of episode, and the size and activity of health centers.

SA incidence rates for non-occupational illness and injury showed a decreasing trend during 2009-2012. Smaller centers had lower SA rates for non-occupational conditions than larger centers (p〈0.001). Social health centers had higher SA rates of non-occupational illness and injury, especially those with a very short duration (p〈0.001). Primary care centers had the lowest SA occupational illness and injury rates, with the highest rates occurring in the social health centers, especially long-term centers (p〈0.001).

The differences in incidence rates of SA detected by type of activity of the health centers could be due to differences in working conditions.