Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation

Angela N Kisakye,1 Raymond Tweheyo,1 Freddie Ssengooba,1 George W Pariyo,2 Elizeus Rutebemberwa,1 Suzanne N Kiwanuka1 1Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Schoo...

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Main Authors: Kisakye AN, Tweheyo R, Ssengooba F, Pariyo GW, Rutebemberwa E, Kiwanuka SN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2016-11-01
Series:Journal of Healthcare Leadership
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/regulatory-mechanisms-for-absenteeism-in-the-health-sector-a-systemati-peer-reviewed-article-JHL
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spelling doaj-e40301524bc44efa9b874a7c42dc2c712020-11-24T22:50:38ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Healthcare Leadership1179-32012016-11-01Volume 8819429913Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementationKisakye ANTweheyo RSsengooba FPariyo GWRutebemberwa EKiwanuka SNAngela N Kisakye,1 Raymond Tweheyo,1 Freddie Ssengooba,1 George W Pariyo,2 Elizeus Rutebemberwa,1 Suzanne N Kiwanuka1 1Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Background: A systematic review was undertaken to identify regulatory mechanisms aimed at mitigating health care worker absenteeism, to describe where and how they have been implemented as well as their possible effects. The goal was to propose potential policy options for managing the problem of absenteeism among human resources for health in low- and middle-income countries. Mechanisms described in this review are at the local workplace and broader national policy level. Methods: A comprehensive online search was conducted on EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, and Social Science Citation Index using MEDLINE search terms. Retrieved studies were uploaded onto reference manager and screened by two independent reviewers. Only publications in English were included. Data were extracted and synthesized according to the objectives of the review. Results: Twenty six of the 4,975 published articles retrieved were included. All were from high-income countries and covered all cadres of health workers. The regulatory mechanisms and possible effects include 1) organizational-level mechanisms being reported as effective in curbing absenteeism in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); 2) prohibition of private sector activities in LMICs offering benefits but presenting a challenge for the government to monitor the health workforce; 3) contractual changes from temporary to fixed posts having been associated with no reduction in absenteeism and not being appropriate for LMICs; 4) multifaceted work interventions being implemented in most settings; 5) the possibility of using financial and incentive regulatory mechanisms in LMICs; 6) health intervention mechanisms reducing absenteeism when integrated with exercise programs; and 7) attendance by legislation during emergencies being criticized for violating human rights in the United States and not being effective in curbing absenteeism. Conclusion: Most countries have applied multiple strategies to mitigate health care worker absenteeism. The success of these interventions is heavily influenced by the context within which they are applied. Keywords: absenteeism, health workers, regulatory mechanisms, systematic reviewhttps://www.dovepress.com/regulatory-mechanisms-for-absenteeism-in-the-health-sector-a-systemati-peer-reviewed-article-JHLAbsenteeismhealth workersregulatory mechanismssystematic review
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Kisakye AN
Tweheyo R
Ssengooba F
Pariyo GW
Rutebemberwa E
Kiwanuka SN
spellingShingle Kisakye AN
Tweheyo R
Ssengooba F
Pariyo GW
Rutebemberwa E
Kiwanuka SN
Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
Journal of Healthcare Leadership
Absenteeism
health workers
regulatory mechanisms
systematic review
author_facet Kisakye AN
Tweheyo R
Ssengooba F
Pariyo GW
Rutebemberwa E
Kiwanuka SN
author_sort Kisakye AN
title Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
title_short Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
title_full Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
title_fullStr Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
title_full_unstemmed Regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
title_sort regulatory mechanisms for absenteeism in the health sector: a systematic review of strategies and their implementation
publisher Dove Medical Press
series Journal of Healthcare Leadership
issn 1179-3201
publishDate 2016-11-01
description Angela N Kisakye,1 Raymond Tweheyo,1 Freddie Ssengooba,1 George W Pariyo,2 Elizeus Rutebemberwa,1 Suzanne N Kiwanuka1 1Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Background: A systematic review was undertaken to identify regulatory mechanisms aimed at mitigating health care worker absenteeism, to describe where and how they have been implemented as well as their possible effects. The goal was to propose potential policy options for managing the problem of absenteeism among human resources for health in low- and middle-income countries. Mechanisms described in this review are at the local workplace and broader national policy level. Methods: A comprehensive online search was conducted on EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, and Social Science Citation Index using MEDLINE search terms. Retrieved studies were uploaded onto reference manager and screened by two independent reviewers. Only publications in English were included. Data were extracted and synthesized according to the objectives of the review. Results: Twenty six of the 4,975 published articles retrieved were included. All were from high-income countries and covered all cadres of health workers. The regulatory mechanisms and possible effects include 1) organizational-level mechanisms being reported as effective in curbing absenteeism in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); 2) prohibition of private sector activities in LMICs offering benefits but presenting a challenge for the government to monitor the health workforce; 3) contractual changes from temporary to fixed posts having been associated with no reduction in absenteeism and not being appropriate for LMICs; 4) multifaceted work interventions being implemented in most settings; 5) the possibility of using financial and incentive regulatory mechanisms in LMICs; 6) health intervention mechanisms reducing absenteeism when integrated with exercise programs; and 7) attendance by legislation during emergencies being criticized for violating human rights in the United States and not being effective in curbing absenteeism. Conclusion: Most countries have applied multiple strategies to mitigate health care worker absenteeism. The success of these interventions is heavily influenced by the context within which they are applied. Keywords: absenteeism, health workers, regulatory mechanisms, systematic review
topic Absenteeism
health workers
regulatory mechanisms
systematic review
url https://www.dovepress.com/regulatory-mechanisms-for-absenteeism-in-the-health-sector-a-systemati-peer-reviewed-article-JHL
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