Interventions to reduce sickness absence among healthcare workers: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose Sickness absence is a major concern for healthcare services and their employees with healthcare workers having higher sickness absence rates compared to the general population. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review randomised control trials (RCTs) that aimed to reduce sickness absence among healthcare workers. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted that aimed to include RCTs with study participants who were employed in any part of the healthcare sector. This review included any type of intervention with the primary outcome measure being sickness absence. Findings Seven studies were included in the review and consisted of one exercise-only intervention, three multicomponent intervention programmes, two influenza vaccination interventions and one process consultation. Three studies (exercise-only, one multicomponent intervention programme and one influenza vaccination intervention) were able to demonstrate a reduction in sickness absence compared to control. Research limitations/implications Due to the lack of high-quality evidence, this review identified that there are currently no interventions that healthcare organisations are able to use to effectively reduce sickness absence among their employees. This review also highlights the importance of a standardised measure of sickness absence for healthcare staff, such as shifts. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review to synthesise such evidence among healthcare workers.

Impact of a Multifaceted Intervention Among Primary Care Physicians on Sickness Certification

“…Studies of interventions that address sickness absence in the literature mostly target changes in the patients' work environment and seldom physicians. 11 Our findings did not show a significant change in the sickness absence rate among patients before and after the intervention, which could be attributed to the already low sickness absence rate in our setting.…”

Trends, variations and prediction of staff sickness absence rates among NHS ambulance services in England: a time series study

“…However, whether this resulted from implementing well-being initiatives or other factors such as leadership styles, culture and levels of resourcing in those trusts with lower absence rates requires further empirical scrutiny. 25 Simmons et al 5 conducted a systematic review investigating randomised controlled trials of interventions to reduce sickness absence among healthcare workers and Open access found one exercise (Tai Chi), one multicomponent (policy, exercise, psychosocial and workplace review) and an influenza vaccination intervention were effective but four other trials (including one influenza vaccination, two multicomponent and a process consultation designed to enhance relationships between managers and staff) showed no effect. Workplace counselling including to healthcare workers has been shown to reduce sickness absence.…”

“…An early study examining sickness absence in West Midlands Metropolitan Ambulance Service compared with the Post Office and Fire Service in the 1980s4 found that musculoskeletal injury was the main cause of sickness absence and this was exacerbated by the nature of ambulance work. Sickness absence has been highlighted as a concern for health in ambulance services5 6 but detailed reasons for this and potential solutions are needed.…”

Exploring the wellbeing of ambulance staff using the ‘public value’ perspective: opportunities and challenges for research

“…This has exacerbated the vulnerability of organizations to reputational damage due to constant media coverage, accompanied by greater academic and public debates about the state of the NHS ambulance service, including the mental health and wellbeing of staff (Lawn et al, 2020;Mildenhall, 2019). Staff wellbeing has been identified as a national priority in several policy documents (Boorman, 2009;NAO, 2017;NHS, 2019) but remains under-researched (Simmons et al, 2019;Wankhade, 2016).…”