Corne A M Roelen1, Martijn W Heymans2, Jos W R Twisk2, Mikko Laaksonen3, Ståle Pallesen4, Nils Magerøy5, Bente E Moen6, Bjørn Bjorvatn6. 1. 1 Department of Health Sciences, VU University, The Netherlands corne.roelen@arboned.nl. 2. 1 Department of Health Sciences, VU University, The Netherlands. 3. 2 Finnish Centre for Pensions, Finland. 4. 3 Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Norway. 5. 4 Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. 6. 5 Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) has been found to predict sickness absence (SA). The present study investigated the effect of replacing single-item SRH by a multi-item health measure on SA predictions. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 2059 Norwegian nurses with assessments in three waves each separated by 1 year. Health was measured by single-item SRH and multi-item SF-12 in waves 1 and 2. SA was self-reported in all three waves and high SA was defined as more than or equal to 31 SA days within the last 12 months. Predictions of high SA by a model including age, prior SA and single-item SRH were compared with predictions by a model including age, prior SA and multi-item SF-12. Both models were bootstrapped to correct for over-optimism and prospectively validated for their predictions in a new time frame. RESULTS: 1253 nurses (61%) had complete data for analysis. The SF-12 model predicted the risk of high SA more accurately (χ(2) = 4.294; df = 8) and was more stable over time than the SRH model (model χ(2) = 14.495; df = 8). Both prediction models correctly discriminated between high-risk and low-risk individuals in 73% of the cases at wave 2 and in 71% of the cases at wave 3. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of predictions increased when single-item SRH was replaced by multi-item SF-12, but the discriminative ability did not improve. Single-item SRH suffices to identify employees at increased risk of high SA.
BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) has been found to predict sickness absence (SA). The present study investigated the effect of replacing single-item SRH by a multi-item health measure on SA predictions. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 2059 Norwegian nurses with assessments in three waves each separated by 1 year. Health was measured by single-item SRH and multi-item SF-12 in waves 1 and 2. SA was self-reported in all three waves and high SA was defined as more than or equal to 31 SA days within the last 12 months. Predictions of high SA by a model including age, prior SA and single-item SRH were compared with predictions by a model including age, prior SA and multi-item SF-12. Both models were bootstrapped to correct for over-optimism and prospectively validated for their predictions in a new time frame. RESULTS: 1253 nurses (61%) had complete data for analysis. The SF-12 model predicted the risk of high SA more accurately (χ(2) = 4.294; df = 8) and was more stable over time than the SRH model (model χ(2) = 14.495; df = 8). Both prediction models correctly discriminated between high-risk and low-risk individuals in 73% of the cases at wave 2 and in 71% of the cases at wave 3. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of predictions increased when single-item SRH was replaced by multi-item SF-12, but the discriminative ability did not improve. Single-item SRH suffices to identify employees at increased risk of high SA.
Authors: Minna Pihlajamäki; Jukka Uitti; Heikki Arola; Mikko Korhonen; Tapio Nummi; Simo Taimela Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2019-11-30 Impact factor: 3.015