Presenteeism and associated factors among railway train drivers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Presenteeism is a growing occupational health concern, particularly for train drivers, exceeding absenteeism in long-term productivity loss and accident risk.
• Train drivers face elevated risks of mental and physical health conditions, increasing their susceptibility to presenteeism.
• Understanding presenteeism in this high-risk group is crucial for mitigating its impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of presenteeism among train drivers in Mansoura railway station, Egypt.
• To identify factors associated with presenteeism in this occupational group.
• To compare presenteeism rates between train drivers and a control group of administrative employees.

Main Methods:

• A comparative cross-sectional study involving 100 train drivers and 100 administrative employees.
• Data collection via questionnaires for socio-demographic, occupational, and medical information.
• Utilized the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) to assess psychological distress and productivity loss.

Main Results:

• Presenteeism prevalence was substantially higher in train drivers (76%) compared to the control group (31%).
• All participants experiencing psychological distress reported presenteeism (100%).
• Being a train driver (AOR=5.4) and having hypertension (AOR=4.03) were independent predictors of presenteeism.

Conclusions:

• Train drivers exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of presenteeism and associated risk factors compared to administrative employees.
• Psychological distress and hypertension are key factors linked to presenteeism in train drivers.
• The railway industry must prioritize understanding and addressing the drivers of presenteeism to improve worker health and safety.