Self-reported job satisfaction and somatic symptoms as markers for long sick leave

• Main Authors: Hsuan-Chi Lin, 林軒綺
• Other Authors: Yue-Liang Guo
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/38559540339422617473

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 職業醫學與工業衛生研究所 === 102 === Introduction : Long sick leave is an economic as well as a medical problem. It tends to marginalize the employee form the workplace and is associated with risk of future disability pension. To prevent long sick absence and subsequent transition permanent disability, it is imperative to recognize predictive factors in order to screen employees at risk for long sick leave. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which variables including job satisfaction and somatic symptoms are useful in identifying at high risk of long sick leave, and to develop a predictive model for identifying employees at high risk of long sick leave within one and two years separately. Material and Methods: Data from manufacturing factories were used to identifying factors to be associated with an increased risk of long sick leave. The analytical procedures univariate logistic regression, backward stepwise logistic regression, multiple logistic regression were successively applied. Sensitivity and Specificity of cut-off points were determined by the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Within one year follow-up, results suggested that gender, age(>34), work tenure, disease history, medical history, surgery history, current smoker, moderate drinker, never exercise, self-reported job satisfaction and self-reported somatic symptoms were associated with long sick leave. Within two years follow-up, results suggested that gender, age(28-34; >34), work tenure, disease history, medical history, surgery history, current smoker, moderate drinker, never exercise, self-reported job satisfaction and self-reported somatic symptoms were associated with long sick leave. Based on ROC curve analysis, it revealed that areas under curve were significantly different (p-value=0.0159) within one year follow-up. It proposed that self-reported job satisfaction and somatic symptoms were significant predictors for long sick leave. A potential cut-off point of 0.021 on the predictive model in a sensitivity score of 80.7% within one year follow-up and 80.7% within two years follow-up and a specificity score of 44.4% within one year follow-up and 45.3% within two years follow-up. Conclusions: This study showed that self-reported job satisfaction and self-reported symptoms were significantly associated with long sick within follow-up period. It also proposed it was possible and valuable to develop an instrument for early identification of employees at risk for long sick leave.