title: Coming to work sick: a survey of hospital doctors in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the rate of sickness presenteeism in hospital doctors in a New Zealand tertiary hospital and to also identify reasons for why doctors continue to work whilst sick.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous online survey about sickness presenteeism for all hospital doctors at one tertiary care hospital in New Zealand
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate for the survey was 328/685 (47.8%). Sickness presenteeism was reported by 269/328 (82%) of respondents. The main reasons for sickness presenteeism were: not wanting to burden co-workers and the desire to ensure care for patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sickness presenteeism is highly prevalent in this survey. It is likely a change in attitudes by doctors towards their illnesses, and better allocation of staff resources are necessary to prevent this to avoid potential harm to patients and health care workers.
authors.affiliation: Wellington Hospital, Private Bag 7902, Wellington South, New Zealand. Melissa.Tan@ccdhb.org.nz.
authors.forename: Pei Chyi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Sisira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayathissa
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012803:Sick Role; D014937:Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data