Does evening work predict sickness absence among female carers of the elderly?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to predict the risk ratio of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks due to shift work among Danish workers caring for the elderly during the evening and at night.


METHODS
A sample of Danish carers of the elderly were interviewed in 2005. The response rate was 78%. A cohort of 5627 shift and day workers was followed for sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks and for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks in a sickness compensation register covering all social transfer payments in Denmark.


RESULTS
Among the evening workers, the rate ratio (RR) of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks was 1.29 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.10-1.52). The rate ratio for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks was 1.24 (95% CI 0.99-1.56).


CONCLUSIONS
Evening work may cause long-term sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks.
Tüchsen
Finn
F
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. ftu@nrcwe.dk
Christensen
Karl Bang
KB
Nabe-Nielsen
Kirsten
K
Lund
Thomas
T
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult