title: Medically certified sickness absence among health care workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the days and spells of sickness absence among males versus females and Saudi nationals versus expatriate employees of King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, and to identify the cause of sickness absence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional, descriptive study comprised 3117 King Khalid University Hospital employees. Records of physician-certified sickness absence from January 1 to June 30, 2009, were obtained from the employee health clinic's register. Absence rate, frequency, duration and severity were assessed and compared between genders and nationalities, and causes were noted. SPSS version 16 and student's t test were used for statistical analyses and comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 377 (12.1 %) employees had 416 spells of sickness absence with 639 sick-off days (mean: 1.54 +/- 0.85). The probability of sickness absence was higher among Saudi (OR=1.33) and female (OR=1.39) employees. The association of sickness absence was not found among the absentees with either gender (p= 0.335) or nationality (p = 0.086). Almost all spells of sick-off days were of short duration. Longer spells were mainly due to chicken pox which was found to be more among the expatriates. Heavy absenteeism was found only among the Saudis. The most common causes of sickness absence were acute upper respiratory infection, diseases of musculoskeletal system and the digestive system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate, frequency and duration of absence due to sickness in the study were higher among Saudi and female employees. The rate of absence, with passage of time, has increased significantly among Saudi nationals.
authors.affiliation: King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. rajabali999@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rajab Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: Raheel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sikander
authors.forename: Asad Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: Rechel Joy Macadaan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jareno
authors.forename: Aurangzeb Taj
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Halepota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017748:Time Management; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards