The Effect of Chronic Health Conditions on Work Performance in Japanese Companies

Abstract

Chronic disease has a significant impact on workers' productivity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic health conditions, the work impairment score, and the total lost working hours absent at companies in Japan. Eligible participants were all 544 workers of 4 manufacturing companies in the Kanto area. The Stanford Presenteeism Scale that was developed by Merck & Co., Inc and Stanford University was translated into Japanese and was given to the workers at a periodic health examination between April and June 2006. A total of 433 workers completed the questionnaire, and 48.9% of the participants reported having one or more chronic health conditions which affected their work performance. Allergy (13.3%) was the highest primary chronic health condition followed by back/neck disorders (9.7%). The work impairment score was higher for individuals with depression and migraine/chronic headache. The total lost working hours due to the primary chronic health conditions were 1.4% of the total working hours among the participants. The total lost working hours was highest for those with allergy followed by back/neck disorders and depression. These results should make it possible to develop an occupational health program that can reduce the effects of chronic health conditions on work performance.

Construct validity and test-retest reliability of the World Mental Health Japan version of the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire Short Version: a preliminary study

“…The SPS 11) and WFun 13) were measured in the survey at T1. The SPS was translated into Japanese and already validated 35) . The SPS score ranged from 10 to 50, with higher scores being indicative of greater presenteeism.…”

“…The SPS score ranged from 10 to 50, with higher scores being indicative of greater presenteeism. The score was calculated only when a respondent endorsed any of 13 chronic conditions 35) .…”

Effect of Affective Temperaments Assessed by the TEMPS-A on the Relationship between Work-Related Stressors and Depressive Symptoms among Workers in Their Twenties to Forties in Japan

“…This was 2.4 times higher than in 1996. Employers must pay particular attention to depression in employees because it has a negative impact on productivity [3, 4]. Major depression is a multifactorial disorder [5], and examining risk factors can help employers and managers take measures toward the prevention of depression among workers.…”

Stigma towards nurses with mental illnesses: A study of nurses and nurse managers in hospitals in Japan

“…Another study revealed that in terms of total working hours lost because of primary chronic health conditions, depression was among the top three conditions (Wada et al . ).…”

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