Physical leisure-time activities and long-term sick leave: a 15-month prospective study of nurses' aides.
The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between physical leisure-time activities and the occurrence of long-term sick leaves in nurses' aides. Of 5563 Norwegian nurses' aides who were not on sick leave when they completed a questionnaire in 1999, 4744 (85.3%) completed a second questionnaire 15 months later. Brisk walks (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63 to 0.98), aerobics or gymnastics (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.02), and other physical leisure activities (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.00) for 20 minutes or more at least once a week predicted fewer long-term sick leaves (> 14 days), after adjustments for baseline health complaints, demographic and familial characteristics, former and current smoking, and work factors. In conclusion, regular physical leisure-time activity may be associated with a reduced risk of long-term sickness absence in nurses' aides.
Eriksen
Willy
W
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1130, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway. w.b.eriksen@samfunnsmed.uio.no
Bruusgaard
Dag
D
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*