Abstract
Background
In March 2019, the WHO published the “The Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030”, with the goal of strengthening seasonal prevention and control and preparedness for future pandemics. Accordingly, to the 2B, 2C, 3B goals, this study tries to assess the burden of the disease among the healthcare workers (HCWs). Our study aimed to estimate the impact of severe intensity season on absenteeism among HCWs in a large Italian hospital and if the vaccination rates would be associated with reduced sickness absence.
Methods
We investigated excess of absenteeism that occurred in a large Italian hospital, counting 5300 HCWs, during the flu season of 2017-2018. Data on influenza vaccination were gathered from the Occupational Health Unit, while absenteeism data from the hospital’s Personal Unit Database. The data collection ranged from July 2017 to June 2018, it was divided into two periods: epidemic and non-epidemic, the last one used as a baseline to calculate excess of absenteeism. We also gathered other variables in order to stratify the absenteeism among HCWs.
Results
The total lost days were 53.775. The average number of lost days per week during the epidemic period was 1263. Compared to the non-epidemic period, absenteeism increased by 65% (from 4.05 to 6.68 days/person). Vaccinated HCWs had a lower excess of absenteeism in comparison to non-vaccinated HCWs (1,74 vs 2,71 days/person). Nurses and allied health professionals registered the highest excess of absenteeism (3.16 days/person) while medical doctors showed the lowest (0.76 days/person).
Conclusions
A severe influenza epidemic impacts on the excess of absenteeism among HCWs. Although the low vaccination rate (6,8%), a positive effect on absenteeism is outlined and it may support health care facilities to promote and facilitate flu vaccination among HCWs. As literature states low absenteeism rate, as seen in medical doctors, could be an indicator of presenteeism that might lead to harm the inpatients.
Key messages
The flu vaccination has a positive effect on reducing the absenteeism rate in the HCWs during the epidemic period and should be promoted and advocated among european healthcare facilities. A low absenteeism rate may also be an indicator of presenteeism among HCWs, which may also be harmful to the inpatients.
Flu vaccination in children. The pleasant surprise of an indirect positive effect
