Performance Decrements Resulting From Illness in the Workplace: The Effect of Headaches

Abstract

The three groups were similar in a variety of demographic factors, and mean subject-specific measures of speed, output, and productivity. In a multivariate model using general estimating equations, only episode severity (not type of headache or person-specific diagnosis) was found to be associated with a significant decrement in speed or productivity. The self-reported decrement in speed (approximately 20%) was much greater than the actual measured effect on productivity (approximately 8%). Intensive daily diary collection by IVR on symptoms and work performance is feasible. However, analysis of detailed daily objective productivity data can be complex, with significant unmeasured sources of variance. Severity may be a more important determinant of headache effect on work performance than specific diagnosis. Future studies on illness episodes and work performance should measure informal accommodations that may enable employees to compensate for episodic illnesses.

The Impact of Migraine and the Effect of Migraine Treatment on Workplace Productivity in the United States and Suggestions for Future Research

“…The third study collected data from respondents with headaches, and participants were diagnosed as having migraine or other types of headache by a neurologist when the study was complete. 33 Four of the 9 studies on burden of migraine reported the mean cost of lost workplace productivity. 5,17,20,35 Stang and Osterhaus 5 calculated a national estimate of the cost and number of days of restricted activity due to migraine.…”

“…Other studies estimated the mean number of hours of work lost per attack (8.2 hours), 27 the mean number of hours lost per year (88 hours), 34 the mean number of days of work lost per year (4.4 days), 32 and the median number of days of work lost per year (4 days). 30 Pransky et al 33 administered daily surveys with a telephone interactive voice response system and found that 14.6% of workdays for migraineurs were affected by a headache.…”

“…20,30,33 In 2 of these 3 studies, individuals with undiagnosed migraine were identified by questions about their headache symptoms, and the responses were compared with IHS diagnostic criteria from 1988 11 to establish a migraine diagnosis. 30,33 Lamb et al 20 used the Work Productivity Short Inventory (WPSI), 36 a generic productivity questionnaire, to compare the productivity impact of a variety of conditions, including migraine, with the productivity impact of allergic rhinitis. The third study collected data from respondents with headaches, and participants were diagnosed as having migraine or other types of headache by a neurologist when the study was complete.…”

“…5,17,20,27,30,[32][33][34][35] In these articles, individuals were asked to estimate the impact of migraine on their work productivity. In 6 of the 9 studies on burden of migraine, all participants had a diagnosis of migraine.…”

Risk factors for generally reduced productivity—a prospective cohort study of young adults with neck or upper-extremity musculoskeletal symptoms

“…Methods to measure reduced productivity have been developed (5,7,19) for disorders such as depression, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, sleep disorders, and diabetes (20)(21)(22)(23)(24) or health risks (8,25). Some studies with a cross-sectional study design have reported possible correlations between musculoskeletal symptoms and productivity loss (4,8,(15)(16)(17)26).…”