Risk factors associated with respiratory infectious disease-related presenteeism: a rapid review

Abstract

Background Workplace transmission is a significant contributor to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. Previous studies have found that infectious illness presenteeism could contribute to outbreaks in occupational settings and identified multiple occupational and organisational risk factors. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to investigate presenteeism particularly in relation to respiratory infectious disease (RID). Hence, this rapid review aims to determine the prevalence of RID-related presenteeism, including COVID-19, and examines the reported reasons and associated risk factors. Methods The review followed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search approach and focused on studies published in English and Chinese. Database searches included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI) and preprint databases MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Results The search yielded 54 studies, of which four investigated COVID-19-related presenteeism. Prevalence of work presenteeism ranged from 14.1 to 55% for confirmed RID, and 6.6 to 100% for those working with suspected or subclinical RID. The included studies demonstrated that RID-related presenteeism is associated with occupation, sick pay policy, age, gender, health behaviour and perception, vaccination, peer pressure and organisational factors such as presenteeism culture. Conclusions This review demonstrates that presenteeism or non-adherence to isolation guidance is a real concern and can contribute to workplace transmissions and outbreaks. Policies which would support workers financially and improve productivity, should include a range of effective non-pharmaceutical inventions such as workplace testing, promoting occupational health services, reviewing pay and bonus schemes and clear messaging to encourage workers to stay at home when ill. Future research should focus on the more vulnerable and precarious occupational groups, and their inter-relationships, to develop comprehensive intervention programs to reduce RID-related presenteeism.

Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Italy Using Real-World Data: Methodology and Cohort Description of the Second Phase of Web-Based EPICOVID19 Study

“…This large fraction of people, who had not undergone self-isolation or quarantine, is likely to have contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to the spread of the disease outbreaks in small communities such as households [56] during the most severe restrictions period, or such as workplaces [57] when the restrictions were less stringent.…”

Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Italy using real-world data: methodology and cohort description of the second phase of web-based EPICOVID19 study

“…This large fraction of people, not undergone self-isolation or quarantine, is likely to have contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to the spread of the disease outbreaks in small communities such as households [56] during the most severe restrictions period, or such as workplaces [57], when the restrictions were less stringent.…”

A Cluster of Health Symptoms After a Law Enforcement Operation: A Case Study

“…Other recommendations to prevent influenza in the workplace include advising employees to not work when they are sick and ensuring that sick leave policies and staffing levels encourage sick employees to stay home. Working with symptoms of ILI is common [ 16 , 17 ]. Most studies, which have focused on health care personnel, have identified system-level and sociocultural factors associated with working while ill [ 16 ].…”