Job‐Related Stress and Sickness Absence Among Belgian Nurses: A Prospective Study. Issue 4 (22nd April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trybou, Jeroen; Germonpre, Sofie; Janssens, Heidi; Casini, Annalisa; Braeckman, Lutgart; Bacquer, Dirk De; Clays, Els
• Is Part Of: Journal of nursing scholarship. Volume 46:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 301
• Publication Date: 2014-04-22
• Subjects: Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- United States -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1527-6546

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jnu12075-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of job stress on sickness absence of nurses and determine the predictive power of the Demand‐Control‐Support (DCS) model, the Effort‐Reward Imbalance‐Overcommitment (ERI‐OC) model, and a combination of both.</p> </sec> <sec id="jnu12075-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>A survey was conducted to measure job stress in a sample of 527 Belgian nurses, followed by prospective data collection of sickness absence (long‐term, short‐term, and multiple episodes).</p> </sec> <sec id="jnu12075-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Findings</title> <p>Perceptions of job strain and ERI increased the odds for long‐term (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.26; 99% confidence interval [CI; 1.27–4.04]) and multiple episodes of sickness absence (adjusted OR = 1.64; 95% CI [1.01–2.65]). Iso‐strain and ERI‐OC increased the odds for long‐term (OR = 1.75; 95% CI [0.98–3.11]), multiple episode (adjusted OR = 1.93; 95% CI [1.14–3.26]), and short‐term (adjusted OR = 1.69; 95% CI [1.03–2.76]) sickness absence.</p> </sec> <sec id="jnu12075-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The combined model of DCS and ERI‐OC predicts the odds for long‐term and short‐term sickness absence and multiple episodes.</p> </sec> <sec id="jnu12075-sec-0050" sec-type="section"> <title>Clinical Relevance</title> <p>This study has implications for human resources management in nursing organizations. Nursing administrators are advised to monitor and balance nurses' job demands and efforts. They should recognize the importance of social support, job control, job rewards, and overcommitment in order to reduce the job stress of nurses.</p> </sec> </abstract>