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

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 priva...

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Main Authors: Piel, Stella (Author) , Presotto, Maria Ada (Author) , Jörres, Rudolf A. (Author) , Karrasch, Stefan (Author) , Gesierich, Wolfgang (Author) , Bullwinkel, Jörn (Author) , Rabe, Klaus F. (Author) , Hayden, Markus C. (Author) , Kaestner, Franziska (Author) , Harzheim, Dominik (Author) , Joves, Biljana (Author) , Kempa, Axel T. (Author) , Ghiani, Alessandro (Author) , Neurohr, Claus (Author) , Michels-Zetsche, Julia D. (Author) , Kreuter, Michael (Author) , Herth, Felix (Author) , Trudzinski, Franziska (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: November 2023
In: Respiration
Year: 2023, Volume: 102, Issue: 11, Pages: 924-933
ISSN:1423-0356
DOI:10.1159/000534327
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1159/000534327
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Author Notes: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
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Summary: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.
Item Description:Online veröffentlicht: 18. Oktober 2023
Gesehen am 07.05.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1423-0356
DOI:10.1159/000534327

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