<b>Health problems responsible for the nursing staff disease-absenteeism in a university hospital</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v25i2.2232

Abstract

Disease-absenteeism is the frequent absence from work due to some illness. A retrospective survey of the sick-leave (494) absences during a year was performed. Aiming to identify health problems responsible for the nursing staff disease-absenteeism of a university hospital. Both frequency index and percentage of lost time were calculated, and the health problems were identified. The results showed that the highest frequency index occurred in the Pediatric Unit (Fi=0.35) and the highest percentage of lost time due to absence occurred in the Emergency Unit (Lt=4.19%) among the Nursing Auxiliaries; the nurses showed the highest frequency in the Intensive Care Unit, Fi=0.17 and Lt=3.93%. Health problems of nursing staff were related to the respiratory and genito-urinary systems, as well as to the sense organs, the digestive, the bone-muscle and the feminine reproductive systems. In conclusion, the disease-absenteeism index was high. The illness causes of the staff health are probably due to inappropriate work conditions and risk factors presented in their daily nursing work.