Work factors as predictors of sickness absence attributed to airway infections; a three month prospective study of nurses' aides.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the work factors that are related to sickness absence attributed to airway infections (AAI) in nurses' aides.


METHODS
The sample comprised 5563 Norwegian nurses' aides, not on sick leave when they completed a mailed questionnaire in 1999. Of these, 4931 (88.6%) completed a second questionnaire three months later. The outcome measure was the three month incidence proportion of certified AAI (>3 days), assessed by self reports at follow up.


RESULTS
Working in a paediatric ward (odds ratio (OR) 2.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39 to 4.21), perceived lack of encouraging and supportive culture in the work unit (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.61), and reporting medium (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.12), and high levels (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.13 to 2.26) of role conflicts at work were associated with an increased risk of AAI, after adjustments for baseline health complaints, demographic and familial factors, smoking, and a series of physical, psychological, and organisational work factors. The individual level factors male gender, smoking 10 cigarettes per day or more, having widespread pain, having had an accident related neck injury, and having long term health problems also predicted AAI.


CONCLUSIONS
In nurses' aides, sickness absence attributed to airway infections seems to be related to the type of ward in which the aides are working, and to psychological and social work factors. Declaring airway infections as occupational diseases would have important consequences for the social security system.
Eriksen
W
W
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. w.b.eriksen@samfunnsmed.uio.no
Bruusgaard
D
D
Knardahl
S
S
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*