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Table 1 Distribution of sickness absence spells and occupational groups by age, gender and self-reported general health

From: Socioeconomic status and duration and pattern of sickness absence. A 1-year follow-up study of 2331 hospital employees

 

Total

Age

Women

Fair or poor general health

  

mean (SD)

n (%)1)

n (%)1)

Sickness absence

    

No absence

442

44 (11)

344 (78)

15 (3.4)

Any absence

1889

43 (10)

1610 (85)

106 (5.6)

Any short spells (1-3 days)

1693

43 (10)

1443 (85)

97 (5.7)

Any medium spells (4-14 days)

1034

43 (10)

884 (85)

69 (6.7)

Any long spells (>14 days)

209

45 (10)

190 (91)

24 (12)

"Normal" absence pattern2)

970

45 (10)

814 (84)

38 (3.9)

"Abnormal" absence pattern3)

919

42 (10)

796 (87)

68 (7.4)

Occupational group

    

Doctors4)

258

45 (10)

109 (42 )

7 (2.7)

Physiotherapists5)

294

45 (10)

281 (96 )

24 (8.2)

Nurses

710

41 (10)

681 (96 )

20 (2.8)

Medical secretaries6)

328

45 (11)

311 (95)

21 (6.4)

Nursing assistants

491

45 (10)

424 (86)

25 (5.1)

Cleaners/porters7)

250

44 (11)

148 (59)

24 (9.6)

  1. 1) Percent of total
  2. 2) Any absence, but no more than two short, one medium and one long spell, and altogether no more than three spells of any length
  3. 3) More than either two short spells, one medium spell or one long spell, or more than three spells of any length
  4. 4) Doctors, dentists, psychologists and other academic staff
  5. 5) Physiotherapists, midwives, medical laboratory technologists, social workers and alike
  6. 6) Medical secretaries, office, IT and administrative workers
  7. 7) Cleaning personal, hospital porters, and various assistants
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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