Worker productivity outcome measures in arthritis.

Arthritis is a leading cause of work disability and makes up a significant amount of the socioeconomic cost and health burden to the working age population. We discuss the measurement of worker productivity: that is, absenteeism and presenteeism. Absenteeism refers to the time missed from work due to health reasons and presenteeism refers to the time of impaired performance while at work due to health reasons resulting in productivity loss. While the term absenteeism is commonly used and has several definitions by itself, the current arthritis literature lacks the use of presenteeism as a work outcome measure in describing health states of the workers and for economic costing. Due to advanced medical management and job accommodations that allow workers to stay at work, absenteeism alone may not be enough to give us a complete picture of worker productivity. From our review, we found that the conceptualization and measurement of absenteeism and presenteeism differ. Our research agenda was to carry forward a work outcome measurement that can be used for cost calculation and that can determine levels or states of productivity loss so we can accurately measure the influence of arthritis and advance arthritis care. We recognize the need to perform psychometric testing of work outcome measures and to improve our ability to identify transitions (i.e., move in and out of a productivity state over time) made by workers with arthritis.