‘Mental health day’ sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics

Lamont, S; Brunero, S; Perry, L; Duffield, C; Sibbritt, D; Gallagher, R; Nicholls, R

‘Mental health day’ sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics

Lamont, S Brunero, S Perry, L

Duffield, C

Sibbritt, D

Gallagher, R

Nicholls, R

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2017, 73 (5), pp. 1172 - 1181
Issue Date:: 2017-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lamont, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Brunero, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Perry, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8507-1283	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Duffield, C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6534-8743	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gallagher, R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5588-9351	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nicholls, R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7491-2166	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-11-08	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-05-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2017, 73 (5), pp. 1172 - 1181	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0309-2402	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/109324
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Aim: To examine the workforce, workplace, psychosocial and health characteristics of nurses and midwives in relation to their reported use of sickness absence described as ‘mental health days’. Background: The occupational stress associated with the nursing profession is increasingly recognized and nurse/midwifery absenteeism is a significant global problem. Taking a ‘mental health day’ as sickness absence is a common phenomenon in Australian health care. No previous studies have empirically explored the characteristics of nurses and midwives using such sickness absence. Design: Online cross-sectional survey. Methods: Survey comprising validated tools and questions on workplace and health characteristics was distributed to nurses and midwives in New South Wales, Australia, between May 2014 - February 2015. Sample characteristics were reported using descriptive statistics. Factors independently predictive of ‘mental health day’ reportage were determined using logistic regression. Results: Fifty-four percentage of the n = 5041 nurse and midwife respondents took ‘mental health days’. Those affected were significantly more likely to be at younger ages, working shifts with less time sitting at work; to report workplace abuse and plans to leave; having been admitted to hospital in previous 12 months; to be current smokers; to report mental health problems, accomplishing less due to emotional problems and current psychotropic medication use. Conclusion: Specific characteristics of nurses and midwives who report taking ‘mental health day’ sickness absence offer healthcare administrators and managers opportunities for early identification and intervention with workplace measures and support frameworks to promote well-being, health promotion and safety.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP130100694
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Advanced Nursing	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/jan.13212	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Diseases	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Stress, Psychological	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Mental Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Absenteeism	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Status	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nurses	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Workplace	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sick Leave	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sleep Wake Disorders	en_US
dc.title	‘Mental health day’ sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	73	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	73	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Aim: To examine the workforce, workplace, psychosocial and health characteristics of nurses and midwives in relation to their reported use of sickness absence described as ‘mental health days’. Background: The occupational stress associated with the nursing profession is increasingly recognized and nurse/midwifery absenteeism is a significant global problem. Taking a ‘mental health day’ as sickness absence is a common phenomenon in Australian health care. No previous studies have empirically explored the characteristics of nurses and midwives using such sickness absence. Design: Online cross-sectional survey. Methods: Survey comprising validated tools and questions on workplace and health characteristics was distributed to nurses and midwives in New South Wales, Australia, between May 2014 - February 2015. Sample characteristics were reported using descriptive statistics. Factors independently predictive of ‘mental health day’ reportage were determined using logistic regression. Results: Fifty-four percentage of the n = 5041 nurse and midwife respondents took ‘mental health days’. Those affected were significantly more likely to be at younger ages, working shifts with less time sitting at work; to report workplace abuse and plans to leave; having been admitted to hospital in previous 12 months; to be current smokers; to report mental health problems, accomplishing less due to emotional problems and current psychotropic medication use. Conclusion: Specific characteristics of nurses and midwives who report taking ‘mental health day’ sickness absence offer healthcare administrators and managers opportunities for early identification and intervention with workplace measures and support frameworks to promote well-being, health promotion and safety.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/109324