title: Characteristics of zero-absenteeism in hospital care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Literature on sickness presenteeism is emerging, but still little is known about employees who are never absent from work due to injuries or illness. Insight into the determinants and characteristics of such zero-absentees may provide clues for preventing sickness absence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the characteristics of zero-absentees, defined as employees without sickness absence over a period of 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-method qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews and focus groups for which Azjen and Fishbein's theory of planned behaviour was used as a framework. Zero-absentees working in hospital care were invited for semi-structured interviews until saturation was reached. The results of semi-structured interviews were validated in two focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1053 hospital employees, 47 were zero-absentees of whom 31 (66%) agreed to participate in the study. After 16 semi-structured interviews, no new insights or information were gathered from the interviews. The remaining 15 employees were invited to two (n = 8 and n = 7) focus groups. Personal attitudes and self-efficacy were more important in zero-absenteeism than social pressures of managers, colleagues or patients. Zero-absentees were found to be intrinsically motivated to try attending work when ill.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study population of hospital employees, we found indications that zero-absenteeism and sickness presenteeism might be different types of work attendance. Managers should realize that zero-absentees are driven by intrinsic motivation rather than social pressures to attend work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 196, Groningen 9700 AD, The Netherlands. info@schreuderarbo.nl
authors.forename: J A H
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.forename: C A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roelen
authors.forename: J J L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Klink
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Focus groups; health care; qualitative research; sick-leave; zero-absenteeism.