[Management of short-term absence in a hospital : empirical investigations for implementation of an intervention protocol].
Short-term absence is an important cost factor and its impact is a challenge for all management levels. In this study the effectiveness of a supportive intervention scheme for the reduction of hospital short-term absenteeism is demonstrated. Short-term absenteeism is defined here as being away from the working place for less than 5 days. The study design, which was created by forming an intervention and reference group at a departmental level, ensured neutrality of the participants and therefore high reliability of the results produced. A total of 2,398 employees in 74 organizational units were included. The intervention group included 27 organizational units and the reference group 22. In 25 units employees were either randomized into the control or the reference group. Of the employees 986 were randomized into the intervention group and 1,412 into the control group. Before the formal implementation of the intervention concept, the absence rate was 1.51% in the control group and 1.48% in the intervention group (not significant). In the units of the intervention study arm the absence rate was reduced by 30% to 1.16%. When comparing the results at the employee level, the absence rate in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (0.78% versus 1.17%, p<0.01). Furthermore the effects of the intervention concept were sustained even after the formal ending of the intervention period. This activity has a significant influence on both the absenteeism statistics and the hospital's performance. An implementation of the scheme mainly in the core departments of the hospital, such as the operating theatre, anesthesiology and intensive care has proven to be very helpful.
Kaufmann
T
T
Stab Medizin und Unternehmensentwicklung, Luzerner Kantonsspital, 6000 Luzern 16, Schweiz.
Wäschle
R
R
Bauer
M
M
Schüpfer
G
G
D000041:Absenteeism; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce
JAMA. 2002 Oct 23-30;288(16):1987-93
12387650
Occup Environ Med. 2001 Jun;58(6):361-6
11351050
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1999 Jul;43(6):583-602
10408811
Ann Acad Med Singap. 1984 Apr;13(2 Suppl):417-21
6497346
Nurs Outlook. 2002 Sep-Oct;50(5):187-94
12386653
J Psychosom Res. 2007 Oct;63(4):433-40
17905053
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2008 Aug;34(8):464-71
18714748
Anesthesiology. 2005 Dec;103(6):1305-10
16306744
Int J Qual Health Care. 2008 Aug;20(4):227-37
18436556
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005 Oct;59(10):851-7
16166358
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004 Dec;30(6):468-76; quiz 476
15633598
Neurology. 2008 Apr 22;70(17):1564-70
18427073
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Apr 1;175(7):686-92
17234905
Occup Environ Med. 2004 Apr;61(4):345-9
15031393
Singapore Med J. 1997 Sep;38(9):379-83
9407762
Crit Care Med. 1999 Sep;27(9):1991-8
10507630
Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Oct 1;158(7):663-8
14507602
Chronobiol Int. 2004;21(6):899-912
15646237
Am J Ind Med. 2001 Feb;39(2):194-202
11170161
Am J Public Health. 2002 Jan;92(1):105-8
11772771
Ann Acad Med Singap. 1994 Sep;23(5):660-4
7847743
Scand J Public Health. 2002;30(3):209-15
12227977
Occup Med (Lond). 2006 Jun;56(4):279-81
16733257