Effects on presenteeism and absenteeism from a 1-year workplace randomized controlled trial among health care workers.
OBJECTIVE
It is unknown whether workplace interventions successfully improving health outcomes can also provide concurrent improvements in presenteeism and absenteeism.


METHODS
A 1-year cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted on 144 employees at a care unit in Denmark. The intervention consisted of calorie-limited diet, physical exercise, and cognitive behavioral training during working hours 1 hour per week. The reference group was offered presentations about healthy lifestyle. Absenteeism and presenteeism (productivity, workability, and sickness absence) were recorded at baseline and after 3 and 12 months of intervention.


RESULTS
In intention-to-treat analysis, a significant effect of the intervention was found for productivity after 3 months. Nevertheless, after 12 months no significant effects on absenteeism or presenteeism were found.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a worksite intervention, despite successfully reducing overweight, does not induce lasting improvements on absenteeism or presenteeism.
From the Department of Public Health (Drs Christensen and Overgaard), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; National Research Centre for the Working Environment (Mr Hansen and Dr Holtermann), Copenhagen, Denmark; and Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics (Dr Søgaard), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Jeanette Reffstrup
JR
Christensen
Kristian
K
Overgaard
Klaus
K
Hansen
Karen
K
Søgaard
Andreas
A
Holtermann
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003718:Denmark; D004526:Efficiency; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult