Causes and risk factors for absenteeism among medical staff in german specialized lung clinics during the COVID pandemic

• Verfasst von: Piel, Stella [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Presotto, Maria Ada [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Jörres, Rudolf A. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Karrasch, Stefan [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Gesierich, Wolfgang [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Bullwinkel, Jörn [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Rabe, Klaus F. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Hayden, Markus C. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kaestner, Franziska [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Harzheim, Dominik [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Joves, Biljana [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kempa, Axel T. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Ghiani, Alessandro [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Neurohr, Claus [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Michels-Zetsche, Julia D. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kreuter, Michael [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Herth, Felix [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Trudzinski, Franziska [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Causes and risk factors for absenteeism among medical staff in german specialized lung clinics during the COVID pandemic
• Verf.angabe: Stella Piel, Maria A. Presotto, Rudolf A. Jörres, Stefan Karrasch, Wolfgang Gesierich, Jörn Bullwinkel, Klaus F. Rabe, Markus C. Hayden, Franziska Kaestner, Dominik Harzheim, Biljana Joves, Axel T. Kempa, Alessandro Ghiani, Claus Neurohr, Julia D. Michels, Michael Kreuter, Felix J.F. Herth, Franziska C. Trudzinski
• E-Jahr: 2023
• Jahr: November 2023
• Umfang: 10 S.
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen
• Fussnoten: Online veröffentlicht: 18. Oktober 2023 ; Gesehen am 07.05.2024
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Respiration
• Ort Quelle: Basel : Karger, 1968
• Jahr Quelle: 2023
• Band/Heft Quelle: 102(2023), 11 vom: Nov., Seite 924-933
• ISSN Quelle: 1423-0356
• DOI: doi:10.1159/000534327
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1888003146

Abstract

Background: Staff shortages pose a major challenge to the health system. Objectives: The objective of this study was to clarify the role of different causative factors we investigated on staff absenteeism during the COVID pandemic. 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: 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: 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.