The Effects of a Digital Digestive Care Management Program on Employee Absenteeism: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Occupational Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect 60-70% of the US population.
• Employers face substantial economic burdens due to GI conditions.
• Absenteeism linked to GI issues impacts workforce productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a digital digestive care program on employee absenteeism.
• To quantify the effect of digital health interventions on sick day utilization.

Main Methods:

• Propensity score matching was used to compare participants and non-participants.
• Sick day data was analyzed for public school system employees offered a digital digestive care program.
• The study included 237 participants and 400 non-participants.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in baseline sick days between groups.
• Participants aged 50+ showed significantly fewer sick days during the intervention (P=0.02).
• Annual direct salary savings of approximately $672 per employee were estimated.

Conclusions:

• Digital digestive care interventions are effective in reducing sick days among older workers.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for employers to mitigate costs associated with employee GI conditions.
• Further research into digital health solutions for chronic conditions is warranted.