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Cost of Sickness Absenteeism during Seasonal Influenza Outbreaks of Medium Intensity among Health Care Workers

Author

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  • Maria Michela Gianino

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Gianfranco Politano

    (Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy)

  • Antonio Scarmozzino

    (AOU Città della salute e della Scienza, Torino, corso Bramante 88/90, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Michela Stillo

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Viola Amprino

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Stefano Di Carlo

    (Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy)

  • Alfredo Benso

    (Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy)

  • Carla Maria Zotti

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy)

Abstract

This study aims to estimate the economic costs of sickness absenteeism of health care workers in a large Italian teaching hospital during the seasonal flu periods. A retrospective observational study was performed. The excess data of hospital’s sickness absenteeism during three seasonal influenza periods (2010/2011; 2011/2012; 2012/2013) came from a previous study. The cost of sickness absenteeism was calculated for six job categories: medical doctor, technical executive (i.e., pharmacists); nurses and allied health professionals (i.e., radiographer), other executives (i.e., engineer), non-medical support staff, and administrative staff, and for four age ranges: <39, 40–49, 50–59, and >59 years. An average of 5401 employees working each year were under study. There were over 11,100 working days/year lost associated with an influenza period in Italy, the costs associated were approximately 1.7 million euros, and the average work loss was valued at € 327/person. The major shares of cost appeared related to nurses and allied health professionals (45% of total costs). The highest costs for working days lost were reported in the 40–49 age range, accounting for 37% of total costs. Due to the substantial economic burden of sickness absenteeism, there are clear benefits to be gained from the effective prevention of the influenza.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Michela Gianino & Gianfranco Politano & Antonio Scarmozzino & Michela Stillo & Viola Amprino & Stefano Di Carlo & Alfredo Benso & Carla Maria Zotti, 2019. "Cost of Sickness Absenteeism during Seasonal Influenza Outbreaks of Medium Intensity among Health Care Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-11, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:747-:d:210234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Keech & Paul Beardsworth, 2008. "The Impact of Influenza on Working Days Lost," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 911-924, November.
    2. Kristensen, Tage S., 1991. "Sickness absence and work strain among Danish slaughterhouse workers: An analysis of absence from work regarded as coping behaviour," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 15-27, January.
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    4. Maria Michela Gianino & Gianfranco Politano & Antonio Scarmozzino & Lorena Charrier & Marco Testa & Sebastian Giacomelli & Alfredo Benso & Carla Maria Zotti, 2017. "Estimation of sickness absenteeism among Italian healthcare workers during seasonal influenza epidemics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-12, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Robert Susło & Piotr Pobrotyn & Lidia Brydak & Łukasz Rypicz & Urszula Grata-Borkowska & Jarosław Drobnik, 2021. "Seasonal Influenza and Low Flu Vaccination Coverage as Important Factors Modifying the Costs and Availability of Hospital Services in Poland: A Retrospective Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Ioanna Avakian & Katerina Dadouli & Lemonia Anagnostopoulos & Konstantinos Fotiadis & Athanasios Lianos & Paraskevi Mina & Christos Hadjichristodoulou & Varvara A. Mouchtouri, 2023. "Nationwide Survey on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: Determinants, Barriers and Peculiarities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Mercè Soler-Font & Ignacio Aznar-Lou & Luca Basile & Núria Soldevila & Pere Godoy & Ana Martínez & Antoni Serrano-Blanco & Angela Domínguez & The Surveillance of Hospitalized Cases of Severe Influenza, 2022. "Costs and Factors Associated with Hospitalizations Due to Severe Influenza in Catalonia (2017–2020)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-10, November.

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