Extensive Medical Absenteeism among  Secondary School Students: An  Observational Study on Their Health  Condition from a Biopsychosocial  Perspective

Vanneste, Yvonne T. M.; Mathijssen, Jolanda; Goor, Ien L. A. M. van de; Vries, Carin M. C. Rots-de; Feron, Frans

doi:10.4236/ojpm.2015.53013

Cited by 22 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, both students who report one to four sick days in the past eight weeks and students with more than four sick days in the past eight weeks showed decreased physical HRQOL. This is in accordance with research that found a link between physical conditions and school absenteeism [6,23].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

Toren

Grieken

Mulder

et al. 2019

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines the association between school absenteeism, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and happiness among young adults aged 16–26 years attending vocational education. Cross-sectional data from a survey among 676 young adults were analyzed. School absenteeism was measured by the self-reported number of sick days in the past eight weeks and hours of truancy in the past four weeks. HRQOL was measured by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey; physical and mental component summary scores were calculated. General happiness was assessed on a scale of 0–10, higher scores indicating greater happiness. Linear regression analyses were performed. The study population had a mean age of 18.5 years (SD 2.2); 26.1% were boys. Young adults with ≥5 sick days or ≥6 h of truancy reported lower mental HRQOL compared to young adults without sickness absence or truancy (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–4 and ≥5 sick days reported lower physical HRQOL compared to young adults who had not reported to be sick (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–5 h and ≥6 h of truancy reported higher physical HRQOL compared to young adults who were not truant (p < 0.05). No associations were observed between school absence and happiness. Lower self-reported mental HRQOL was observed among young adults with more school absenteeism due to sickness or truancy. Sickness absence was additionally associated with lower physical HRQOL.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…On the short term, school absenteeism due to health issues or truancy is associated with lower educational performance, physical complaints and psychosocial problems [3,19,20,21,22,23]. A main long-term consequence is early school leaving [6,24,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

Toren

Grieken

Mulder

et al. 2019

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This can result in a raised threshold for reporting sick in future because students cannot avoid attention. The decrease in medical absenteeism can also be attributed to the intervention of the YHCP, resulting in more personalised and adequate treatment, care or support: after analysing the great variability of underlying reasons for the absenteeism [ 43 ], appropriate care, educational adjustments and adequate support could be arranged by schools and YHCPs in a sustainable manner. As a consequence, students possibly experience fewer (health-related) problems and/or find better ways to deal with their problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing medical absenteeism in pre-vocational secondary students: effectiveness of a public health intervention, using a quasi-experimental design

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundStudents’ health and school absenteeism affect educational level, with adverse effects on their future health. This interdependence is reflected in medical absenteeism. In the Netherlands, a public health intervention has been developed to address medical absenteeism in pre-vocational secondary education. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of this intervention on students’ medical absenteeism, compared to “medical absenteeism policy as usual”.MethodsA quasi-experimental design with an intervention group (493 students) and a control group (445 students) was applied. Multilevel analysis was used to study differences in the development of the level of a student’s medical absence over time (after 3 and 12 months).ResultsIn the intervention group, the level of absenteeism decreased from 8.5 days reported sick in 12 school weeks to 5.7 days after 3 months, and to 4.9 days after 12 months. The number of absence periods fell from 3.9 in 12 school weeks to 2.5 after 3 months, and to 2.2 after 12 months. In the control group, the absence days initially decreased from 9.9 days reported sick in 12 school weeks to 8.4 days after 3 months, after which an increase to 8.9 days was measured. The number of absence periods initially decreased from 4.5 in 12 school weeks to 3.5, after which an increase to 3.7 was measured. The number of absence days per period remained about the same in both groups.ConclusionsThe study provides first indications for the intervention to be effective for Dutch pre-vocational secondary students with increased medical absence rates. The intervention, which consists of personalised management of medical absenteeism by systematic identification of students with extensive medical absenteeism and consistent referral to youth health care physicians, appears to reduce the absence rates more effectively than “medical absenteeism policy as usual”. The effectiveness of the intervention is shown primarily by a decrease in the number of periods reported sick.

show abstract

“…However, the follow-up is experienced as difficult. When teachers themselves discuss the absence with students and parents initially, it makes it easier to follow-up of the feedback because, from the start, teachers are more actively involved Moreover, as shown in our study on students’ health condition [ 29 ], extensive medical absenteeism may also be caused by problems in school. This is an additional reason to have a dialogue by school before referring to the YHCP.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes towards Addressing Medical Absenteeism of Students: A Qualitative Study among Principals and Special Education Needs Coordinators in Dutch Secondary Schools

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundReducing school absenteeism benefits the health and educational opportunities of young people. The Dutch intervention Medical Advice for Sick-reported Students (abbreviated as MASS) was developed to address school absenteeism due to sickness reporting, also called medical absenteeism. This study is part of a research project on the effectiveness of MASS and explores factors that influence the implementation and dissemination of the intervention, from schools’ perspectives. The research questions include reasons schools have to implement MASS, their experiences in the implementation of MASS and their views on what is needed to ensure sustainable implementation.MethodsA qualitative research method was used. Semi-structured interviews were held with nine principals and eight special education needs coordinators, working in nine secondary schools that apply MASS. Inductive content analysis was carried out.FindingsThe main reasons for schools to address medical absenteeism were their concerns about students’ well-being and future prospects and their wish to share these concerns with students’ parents. Participants also mentioned the wish to raise the threshold for reporting sick. According to the participants, MASS makes it easier for teachers to enter into conversation with students and their parents about medical absence. MASS prevents damage to the relationship with parents and medical problems being missed. In implementing MASS the main obstacles are teachers’ dialogue about medical absence with students and their parents, teachers’ follow-up of the feedback of the youth health care physicians (YHCPs), and correct registration. The participants were convinced that MASS also improves collaboration with parents regarding the optimization of care for students.ConclusionsMASS allows schools to identify students at risk of dropout at an early stage and to optimise guidance of these students. The intervention matches schools’ need to address medical absenteeism by providing a clear framework, an approach from concern rather than control, and socio-medical expertise through the collaboration with YHCPs. MASS can support schools to maximize the number of students graduating and to improve parental involvement in school. These outcomes may help to put the subject of addressing medical absenteeism on the agenda of all schools, and contribute to prioritization, support adoption and secure sustainable implementation and dissemination of MASS.

show abstract

Extensive Medical Absenteeism among Secondary School Students: An Observational Study on Their Health Condition from a Biopsychosocial Perspective

Cited by 22 publications

References 31 publications

School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

Addressing medical absenteeism in pre-vocational secondary students: effectiveness of a public health intervention, using a quasi-experimental design

Attitudes towards Addressing Medical Absenteeism of Students: A Qualitative Study among Principals and Special Education Needs Coordinators in Dutch Secondary Schools

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About