[Factors related to sickness absenteeism among nursing personnel].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze short-term leaves among the healthcare staff of a university hospital.


METHODS
Study population included 965 nursing professionals active on 1 January 2000. Leaves up to 30 days in one year were analyzed. Sickness leaves (one-year aggregate), service demand, and diagnoses were described. Relative risk was estimated through multivariate analysis, using negative binomial distribution.


RESULTS
About 65% of workers generated 1,988 appointments, of which 68.6% lead to absence from work. The greatest demand occurred among nursing technicians, women, and statutory workers (OR=1.61; 1.47; 1.53 respectively). Over half the studied population (57.6%) had at least one absence. This corresponds to 87.8% of workers who had physician appointments. These workers generated a total 1,364 leaves of absence--1.41 per worker--and 5,279 workdays were missed. Multivariate analysis was carried out considering each gender separately. An effect was found only for work regime (RR=1.45 e RR=2.43) for both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
A relationship exists between absenteeism and work regime. It is necessary to include other variables, such as time working for the company, shift, and number of children.
Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. ricardojreis@terra.com.br
Ricardo José
RJ
dos Reis
Poliana de Freitas
Pde F
La Rocca
Andréa Maria
AM
Silveira
Indiana Mercedez
IM
Lopez Bonilla
Albert
A
Navarro i Giné
Miguel
M
Martín
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016010:Binomial Distribution; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009740:Nursing Staff; D012306:Risk; D018582:Sick Leave