Does evening work predict sickness absence among female carers of the elderly?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does evening work predict sickness absence among female carers of the elderly?

AU - Tüchsen, Finn

AU - Christensen, Karl Bang

AU - Nabe-Nielsen, Kirsten

AU - Lund, Thomas

N1 - Keywords: Absenteeism; Adult; Caregivers; Cohort Studies; Denmark; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Poisson Distribution; Prospective Studies; Registries; Sick Leave; Work Schedule Tolerance; Young Adult

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to predict the risk ratio of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks due to shift work among Danish workers caring for the elderly during the evening and at night. METHODS: A sample of Danish carers of the elderly were interviewed in 2005. The response rate was 78%. A cohort of 5627 shift and day workers was followed for sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks and for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks in a sickness compensation register covering all social transfer payments in Denmark. RESULTS: Among the evening workers, the rate ratio (RR) of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks was 1.29 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.10-1.52). The rate ratio for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks was 1.24 (95% CI 0.99-1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Evening work may cause long-term sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to predict the risk ratio of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks due to shift work among Danish workers caring for the elderly during the evening and at night. METHODS: A sample of Danish carers of the elderly were interviewed in 2005. The response rate was 78%. A cohort of 5627 shift and day workers was followed for sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks and for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks in a sickness compensation register covering all social transfer payments in Denmark. RESULTS: Among the evening workers, the rate ratio (RR) of sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks was 1.29 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.10-1.52). The rate ratio for sickness absence lasting > or = 8 weeks was 1.24 (95% CI 0.99-1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Evening work may cause long-term sickness absence lasting > or = 2 weeks.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19137211

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 34

SP - 483

EP - 486

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

IS - 6

ER -