title: Attacks on postmen in Northern Ireland. What features of the attacks are associated with prolonged absence from work?
abstract: The sickness absence records of 228 postmen who had been attacked on duty in Northern Ireland between 1985 and 1989 were examined. The pattern of absences due to psychological causes in the six months after the attack was recorded. The presence of relevant sickness absence and the amount was correlated to three specific features of the attacks, ie use of arms, use of violence and abduction. Armed attacks produced a significantly more frequent and larger amount of sickness absence. The proportion of victims taking any sickness absence after violent attacks was not significantly greater but those who did so were off work for much longer. Abduction of victims from the scene produced much more frequent absence from work but there was no significant difference in the duration of the absence. The 20 employees who were attacked for a second time during the study period showed a five-fold increase in the length of sickness absence taken.
authors.affiliation: Post Office Occupational Health Service, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011177:Postal Service; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence