Differences in sickness absence in Sweden and Denmark: the cross national HAKNAK study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences in sickness absence in Sweden and Denmark: the cross national HAKNAK study

AU - Lund, Thomas

AU - Christensen, Karl Bang

AU - Vaez, Marjan

AU - Labriola, Merete

AU - Josephson, Malin

AU - Villadsen, Ebbe

AU - Voss, Margaretha

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Denmark; Employment; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Sex Factors; Sick Leave; Social Environment; Sweden; Workload; Young Adult

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - AIM: To investigate potential differences in sickness absence among public sector employees in Sweden and Denmark, and to what extent a difference was associated with age, gender, physical and psychosocial work environment exposures, lifestyle factors, self-rated health or work ability. METHODS: In 2000, two cross-sectional samples of 8562 public sector employees in Sweden and Denmark were surveyed. The study outcome, self-reported number of sick-leave days the year preceding interview, was dichotomized into 7 days or less, and more than 7 days. Chi square test was used to analyse distribution of dependent and independent variables in the two sub-cohorts. Stratified logistic regression analysis was performed to identify causes for absence within the two sub-cohorts, and logistic regression analysis was performed to study differences in sickness absence levels between the two sub-cohorts. RESULTS: More subjects from the Swedish study population reported more than 7 days of sickness absence. Factors associated with sickness absence were largely similar in the two countries. The difference in absence level between Sweden and Denmark was not associated with differences in age, gender, skill level, lifestyle, psychosocial or physical work environment, musculoskeletal symptoms or self-rated health, whereas work ability score decreased the difference in sickness absence level. CONCLUSION: The results could indicate an increased retention of employees with health problems in the Swedish labour market compared with the Danish labour market. A possible explanation for the differences in sickness absence ascertained in this study could be due to differences in the sickness insurance legislation.

AB - AIM: To investigate potential differences in sickness absence among public sector employees in Sweden and Denmark, and to what extent a difference was associated with age, gender, physical and psychosocial work environment exposures, lifestyle factors, self-rated health or work ability. METHODS: In 2000, two cross-sectional samples of 8562 public sector employees in Sweden and Denmark were surveyed. The study outcome, self-reported number of sick-leave days the year preceding interview, was dichotomized into 7 days or less, and more than 7 days. Chi square test was used to analyse distribution of dependent and independent variables in the two sub-cohorts. Stratified logistic regression analysis was performed to identify causes for absence within the two sub-cohorts, and logistic regression analysis was performed to study differences in sickness absence levels between the two sub-cohorts. RESULTS: More subjects from the Swedish study population reported more than 7 days of sickness absence. Factors associated with sickness absence were largely similar in the two countries. The difference in absence level between Sweden and Denmark was not associated with differences in age, gender, skill level, lifestyle, psychosocial or physical work environment, musculoskeletal symptoms or self-rated health, whereas work ability score decreased the difference in sickness absence level. CONCLUSION: The results could indicate an increased retention of employees with health problems in the Swedish labour market compared with the Danish labour market. A possible explanation for the differences in sickness absence ascertained in this study could be due to differences in the sickness insurance legislation.

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckn128

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckn128

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19098065

SN - 1101-1262

VL - 19

SP - 343

EP - 349

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

IS - 3

ER -