title: Exploring the impact of staff absenteeism on patient satisfaction using routine databases in a university hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the influence of staff absenteeism on patient satisfaction using the indicators available in management reports.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Among factors explaining patient satisfaction, human resource indicators have been studied widely in terms of burnout or job satisfaction, but there have not been many studies related to absenteeism indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multilevel analysis was conducted using two routinely compiled databases from 2010 in the clinical departments of a university hospital (France). The staff database monitored absenteeism for short-term medical reasons (5 days or less), non-medical reasons and absences starting at the weekend. The patient satisfaction database was established at the time of discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient satisfaction related to relationships with staff was significantly and negatively correlated with nurse absenteeism for non-medical reasons (P < 0.05) and with nurse absenteeism starting at weekends (P < 0.05). Patient satisfaction related to the hospital environment was significantly and negatively correlated with nurse assistant absenteeism for short-term medical reasons (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings seem to indicate that patient satisfaction is linked to staff absenteeism and should lead to a better understanding of the impact of human resources on patient satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To enhance patient satisfaction, managers need to find a way to reduce staff absenteeism, in order to avoid burnout and to improve the atmosphere in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department, PHU11, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.|EA 4275: Biostatistics, Pharmaco-epidemiology and Subjective Measures in Health Sciences, University of Nantes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duclay
authors.affiliation: EA 4275: Biostatistics, Pharmaco-epidemiology and Subjective Measures in Health Sciences, University of Nantes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nantes, France.|Clinical Research and Biometry Department, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hardouin
authors.affiliation: EA 4275: Biostatistics, Pharmaco-epidemiology and Subjective Measures in Health Sciences, University of Nantes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nantes, France.|Clinical Research and Biometry Department, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sébille
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department, PHU11, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.|EA 4275: Biostatistics, Pharmaco-epidemiology and Subjective Measures in Health Sciences, University of Nantes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anthoine
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department, PHU11, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.|EA 4275: Biostatistics, Pharmaco-epidemiology and Subjective Measures in Health Sciences, University of Nantes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moret
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: patient satisfaction; performance indicators; quality improvement; quality of care; staff absenteeism