Causes and Risk Factors for Absenteeism among Medical Staff in German Specialized Lung Clinics during the COVID Pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic
Healthcare workers
Long-term effects
Specialized lung clinics
Staff shortage
Vaccination
Journal
Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
ISSN: 1423-0356
Titre abrégé: Respiration
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 0137356
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
02
05
2023
accepted:
21
09
2023
medline:
22
11
2023
pubmed:
19
10
2023
entrez:
18
10
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Staff shortages pose a major challenge to the health system. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of different causative factors we investigated on staff absenteeism during the COVID pandemic. The prospective multicentre cohort study assessed the private and professional impact of the pandemic on health care workers (HCWs) using a specially developed questionnaire. HCWs from 7 specialist lung clinics throughout Germany were surveyed from December 1 to December 23, 2021. The current analysis addresses pandemic-related absenteeism. 1,134 HCW (55% female; 18.4% male, 26.3% not willing to provide information on age or gender) participated. 72.8% had received at least one vaccination dose at the time of the survey, and 9.4% reported a COVID infection. Of those with positive tests, 98% reported home quarantine for median (IQR) 14 (12-17) days; 10.3% of those who ultimately tested negative also reported quarantine periods of 14 (7-14) days. 32.2% of vaccinated respondents reported absenteeism due to vaccine reactions of 2 (1-3) days. Overall, 37% (n = 420) of HCW reported pandemic-related absenteeism, with 3,524 total days of absenteeism, of which 2,828 were due to illness/quarantine and 696 to vaccination effects. Independent risk factors for COVID-related absenteeism ≥5 days included already having COVID, but also concern about long-term effects of COVID (OR 1,782, p = 0.014); risk factors for vaccine-related absenteeism ≥2 days included concerns of late effects of vaccination (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4-3.1, p < 0.000). Staff shortages due to quarantine or infections and vaccine reactogenicity have put a strain on German respiratory specialists. The fact that staff concerns also contributed to absenteeism may be helpful in managing future pandemic events to minimize staff absenteeism.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Staff shortages pose a major challenge to the health system.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to clarify the role of different causative factors we investigated on staff absenteeism during the COVID pandemic.
METHODS
METHODS
The prospective multicentre cohort study assessed the private and professional impact of the pandemic on health care workers (HCWs) using a specially developed questionnaire. HCWs from 7 specialist lung clinics throughout Germany were surveyed from December 1 to December 23, 2021. The current analysis addresses pandemic-related absenteeism.
RESULTS
RESULTS
1,134 HCW (55% female; 18.4% male, 26.3% not willing to provide information on age or gender) participated. 72.8% had received at least one vaccination dose at the time of the survey, and 9.4% reported a COVID infection. Of those with positive tests, 98% reported home quarantine for median (IQR) 14 (12-17) days; 10.3% of those who ultimately tested negative also reported quarantine periods of 14 (7-14) days. 32.2% of vaccinated respondents reported absenteeism due to vaccine reactions of 2 (1-3) days. Overall, 37% (n = 420) of HCW reported pandemic-related absenteeism, with 3,524 total days of absenteeism, of which 2,828 were due to illness/quarantine and 696 to vaccination effects. Independent risk factors for COVID-related absenteeism ≥5 days included already having COVID, but also concern about long-term effects of COVID (OR 1,782, p = 0.014); risk factors for vaccine-related absenteeism ≥2 days included concerns of late effects of vaccination (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4-3.1, p < 0.000).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Staff shortages due to quarantine or infections and vaccine reactogenicity have put a strain on German respiratory specialists. The fact that staff concerns also contributed to absenteeism may be helpful in managing future pandemic events to minimize staff absenteeism.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37852191
pii: 000534327
doi: 10.1159/000534327
doi:
Substances chimiques
Vaccines
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
924-933Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.