‘Mental health day’ sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics

Abstract

Aim To examine the workforce, workplace, psychosocial and health characteristics of nurses and midwives in relation to their reported use of sickness absence described as ‘mental health days’. Background The occupational stress associated with the nursing profession is increasingly recognized and nurse/midwifery absenteeism is a significant global problem. Taking a ‘mental health day’ as sickness absence is a common phenomenon in Australian health care. No previous studies have empirically explored the characteristics of nurses and midwives using such sickness absence. Design Online cross‐sectional survey. Methods Survey comprising validated tools and questions on workplace and health characteristics was distributed to nurses and midwives in New South Wales, Australia, between May 2014 ‐ February 2015. Sample characteristics were reported using descriptive statistics. Factors independently predictive of ‘mental health day’ reportage were determined using logistic regression. Results Fifty‐four percentage of the n = 5041 nurse and midwife respondents took ‘mental health days’. Those affected were significantly more likely to be at younger ages, working shifts with less time sitting at work; to report workplace abuse and plans to leave; having been admitted to hospital in previous 12 months; to be current smokers; to report mental health problems, accomplishing less due to emotional problems and current psychotropic medication use. Conclusion Specific characteristics of nurses and midwives who report taking ‘mental health day’ sickness absence offer healthcare administrators and managers opportunities for early identification and intervention with workplace measures and support frameworks to promote well‐being, health promotion and safety.

Problemas de saúde entre profissionais de enfermagem e fatores relacionados

“…El presenteísmo está relacionado con la seguridad del paciente; con mayor caída de pacientes y errores de medicación que generan costos estimados en aproximadamente dos mil millones por año a los Estados Unidos (5) . Además de eso, la literatura identifica el ausenteísmo (ausencias al trabajo) como un problema global (6,7) y reconoce que el absentismo por enfermedad promueve la sobrecarga de trabajo, afecta el funcionamiento del lugar de trabajo, el equipo y los usuarios, comprometiendo la calidad y seguridad de la asistencia de enfermería y la eficiencia de los servicios (6,8,9) . En este momento en que es necesario explorar todas las posibilidades para mejorar la calidad y disminuir costos relacionados a los cuidados (5) la salud de los profesionales de enfermería debe recibir cuidado adecuado.…”

“…riesgo para resultados adversos a la salud (7) . Los resultados relacionados al estrés y salud tienen como importantes predictores las características relacionadas al trabajo y el ambiente en que los enfermeros desarrollan sus actividades laborales (17) .…”

Absenteeism due to mental problems among employees in nursing

“…They found that the factors related to mental health that contributed to absenteeism among nurses and midwives are: starting a career, multiple work, demanding work, abuse at work, smoking, symptoms of mental disorders, desire for cancellation, use of psychotropic medicines and insomnia. The authors state that on the basis of findings on the connection of mental health with absenteeism in health care system, the specific characteristics of employees could be used as indicators for the early identification of individuals who are at risk of absenteeism (Lamont et al, 2016).…”

“…Therefore, identifying and understanding the factors contributing to absenteeism is a particularly challenging for society (Waage and Bjorvatn, 2016). In addition to other factors, the causes of absenteeism are often attributed to mental disorders (Lamont et al, 2016;Perry et al, 2015). When absenteeism arises from mental health problems, employees are usually absent for a longer period of time, and consequently this Absenteeism due to mental problems among employees in nursing Brigita Jeretina 1 , Katja Krt 2 , Andrej Starc can lead to permanent incapacity for work (Anema et al, 2006).…”

“…The consequences of absenteeism are present in the case of employees (lower income, lower prospects, job dissatisfaction, loss of working habits), employers (costs for compensation, costs for substitute workers, lower productivity) and at the level of the national economy as a whole (lower gross domestic product) (Vučković, 2010). On the basis of national data from Canada, it is estimated that, on average, there are up to 1.5 times more probability for absenteeism among health professionals than for other professions (Lamont et al, 2016). Perry and colleagues (2015) studied the mental health of nurses through a cross-sectional study.…”