NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Working with influenza-like illness: presenteeism among US health care personnel during the 2014-2015 influenza season.

Chiu S; Black CL; Yue X; Greby SM; Laney AS; Campbell AP; de Perio MA

Am J Infect Control 2017 Nov; 45(11):1254-1258

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2017.04.008

20049877

Background: Health care personnel (HCP) working while experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) contribute to influenza transmission in health care settings. Studies focused on certain HCP occupations or work settings have demonstrated that some HCP often continue to work while ill. Methods: Using a national nonprobability Internet panel survey of 1,914 HCP during the 2014-2015 influenza season, we calculated the frequency of working with self-reported ILI (ie, fever and cough or sore throat) and examined reasons for working with ILI by occupation and work setting. Results: Overall, 414 (21.6%) HCP reported ILI, and 183 (41.4%) reported working with ILI (median, 3 days; range, 0-30 days). Pharmacists (67.2%) and physicians (63.2%) had the highest frequency of working with ILI. By work setting, hospital-based HCP had the highest frequency of working with ILI (49.3%). The most common reasons for working while ill included still being able to perform job duties and not feeling bad enough to miss work. Among HCP at long-term care facilities, the most common reason was inability to afford lost pay. Conclusions: More than 40% of HCP with ILI work while ill. To reduce HCP-associated influenza transmission, potential interventions could target HCP misconceptions about working while ill and paid sick leave policies.

Health care personnel; Influenza; Infectious diseases; Disease transmission; Viral infections; Viral diseases; Medical personnel; Occupational health; Preventive medicine; Health care facilities; Work environment; Health surveys; Pharmacists; Physicians; Costs; Work performance; Intervention; Surveillance; Author Keywords: Ill; Sick leave; Occupational health

Sophia Chiu, MD, MPH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1090 Tusculum Ave, Mailstop R-9, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1938

AJICDC

20171101

Journal Article

yjx9@cdc.gov

2018

11

0196-6553

DSHEFS; RHD

Services

American Journal of Infection Control

OH; GA; WV