Illness presenteeism among physicians and trainees: Study protocol of a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Illness presenteeism (IP) involves working while sick, a long-standing issue in medicine.
• Renewed interest in IP is driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and physician wellness initiatives.
• A comprehensive review of the existing literature on IP is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To scope the literature on presenteeism among physicians, residents, and medical students.
• To identify how IP is defined, perceived, and studied.
• To assess changes in IP literature since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the Arksey and O'Malley framework for a scoping review.
• Systematic database searches conducted by an experienced librarian.
• Iterative development of inclusion/exclusion criteria and data extraction forms.
• Quantitative and qualitative content analyses for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• The review maps and summarizes the current body of knowledge on physician illness presenteeism.
• Identifies gaps in the existing research on IP.
• Provides insights into the evolution of IP studies, particularly in the context of the pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Summarizing the IP literature enhances understanding of the phenomenon.
• Findings will inform future research directions in physician wellness and occupational health.
• The study has potential implications for improving public health strategies and healthcare professional well-being.