Research Plus

Does past absence predict future absence?

Days’ absence in the past year predicts only 4%–15% of future days’ absence, according to a study of 551 hospital employees (using employer-registered absence data). Episodes of absence over the past two years predicted future absence spells. Periods of absence were more strongly correlated than absence duration, though both were statistically significant.

Occupational Medicine 2010; online first: doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqq181, http://goo.gl/juURY

Tags absence evidence based practice

Occupational Health at Work February/March 2011 (vol. 07/5) pp40