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Smoking and absence from work: Australian evidence
1National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Smoking significantly increases work absence, with male smokers 66% more likely to be absent than non-smokers. Ex-smokers also show high absence rates, suggesting quitting smoking may not immediately reduce work absenteeism.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Work absence is a significant concern for employers and public health.
- Smoking is a prevalent behavior with known health implications.
- Understanding factors influencing work attendance is crucial for workforce productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between smoking status and work absence.
- To quantify the impact of smoking on absence incidence using a large-scale dataset.
- To explore gender-specific differences in smoking's effect on work attendance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health Survey (NHS) in Australia (1989/90).
- Analyzed responses from over 54,000 individuals, linking smoking behavior to work absence.
- Employed logit models to estimate absence incidence over a two-week period, controlling for multiple factors.
Main Results:
- Smoking was found to have a substantial and statistically significant impact on work absence.
- Male smokers had a 66% higher probability of absence compared to male non-smokers; for females, this was 23%.
- Ex-smokers exhibited absence rates nearly as high as current smokers, and absence did not correlate with smoking quantity.
Conclusions:
- Smoking is a significant predictor of work absence, with a more pronounced effect in males.
- The high absence rates among ex-smokers suggest a potential long-term impact or other confounding factors.
- Workplace health interventions should consider smoking cessation programs and their potential impact on absenteeism.