Cost of Sickness Absenteeism during Seasonal Influenza Outbreaks of Medium Intensity among Health Care Workers

Maria Michela Gianino, Gianfranco Politano, Antonio Scarmozzino, Michela Stillo, Viola Amprino, Stefano Di Carlo, Alfredo Benso and Carla Maria Zotti
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Maria Michela Gianino: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Gianfranco Politano: Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Antonio Scarmozzino: AOU Città della salute e della Scienza, Torino, corso Bramante 88/90, 10126 Torino, Italy
Michela Stillo: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Viola Amprino: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Stefano Di Carlo: Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Alfredo Benso: Department of Control and Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Carla Maria Zotti: Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, Università di Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: This study aims to estimate the economic costs of sickness absenteeism of health care workers in a large Italian teaching hospital during the seasonal flu periods. A retrospective observational study was performed. The excess data of hospital’s sickness absenteeism during three seasonal influenza periods (2010/2011; 2011/2012; 2012/2013) came from a previous study. The cost of sickness absenteeism was calculated for six job categories: medical doctor, technical executive (i.e., pharmacists); nurses and allied health professionals (i.e., radiographer), other executives (i.e., engineer), non-medical support staff, and administrative staff, and for four age ranges: <39, 40–49, 50–59, and >59 years. An average of 5401 employees working each year were under study. There were over 11,100 working days/year lost associated with an influenza period in Italy, the costs associated were approximately 1.7 million euros, and the average work loss was valued at € 327/person. The major shares of cost appeared related to nurses and allied health professionals (45% of total costs). The highest costs for working days lost were reported in the 40–49 age range, accounting for 37% of total costs. Due to the substantial economic burden of sickness absenteeism, there are clear benefits to be gained from the effective prevention of the influenza.

Keywords: costs; absenteeism; healthcare workers; seasonal influenza epidemics; medium intensity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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