title: 'Mental health day' sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the workforce, workplace, psychosocial and health characteristics of nurses and midwives in relation to their reported use of sickness absence described as 'mental health days'.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The occupational stress associated with the nursing profession is increasingly recognized and nurse/midwifery absenteeism is a significant global problem. Taking a 'mental health day' as sickness absence is a common phenomenon in Australian health care. No previous studies have empirically explored the characteristics of nurses and midwives using such sickness absence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey comprising validated tools and questions on workplace and health characteristics was distributed to nurses and midwives in New South Wales, Australia, between May 2014 - February 2015. Sample characteristics were reported using descriptive statistics. Factors independently predictive of 'mental health day' reportage were determined using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four percentage of the n = 5041 nurse and midwife respondents took 'mental health days'. Those affected were significantly more likely to be at younger ages, working shifts with less time sitting at work; to report workplace abuse and plans to leave; having been admitted to hospital in previous 12 months; to be current smokers; to report mental health problems, accomplishing less due to emotional problems and current psychotropic medication use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific characteristics of nurses and midwives who report taking 'mental health day' sickness absence offer healthcare administrators and managers opportunities for early identification and intervention with workplace measures and support frameworks to promote well-being, health promotion and safety.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Liaison Nursing, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2497-1314
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Liaison Nursing, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunero
authors.affiliation: Nurse Education and Research Unit, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8507-1283
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6534-8743
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.affiliation: Charles Perkins Centre and Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5588-9351
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7491-2166
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicholls
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: absenteeism; general health; mental health; nurses; presenteeism; sickness; workforce; workplace