Economic Impact according to Health Problems of Workers

Young-Mi Lee; Moon-Hee Jung

doi:10.4040/jkan.2008.38.4.612

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Lee and Jung: Economic Impact according to Health Problems of Workers

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008; 38(4): 612-619.

Published online: 31 August 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.4.612

Economic Impact according to Health Problems of Workers

Young-Mi Lee¹, Moon-Hee Jung²

¹Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Nursing, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

²Professor, College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Young-Mi. Department of Nursing, Course of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 1-7 Yamadaoka Suita 565-0871, Japan. Tel: +81-80-1493-2747, Fax: +81-66879-2552, ymlyoon@naver.com

Received 11 December 2007 Accepted 29 July 2008

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine health problems and to estimate economic impact based on health problems of workers.

Methods

The subjects of this study consisted of 301 workers who received a group occupational health service. Data was collected from February 1 to March 30, 2006. The questionnaire contained questions based on general characteristics and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test using SPSS program.

Results

The primary health conditions as reported by workers were ranked in order as stomach or bowel disorders, back or neck disorders, or liver function disorders. The reason of absenteeism per worker was ranked in order as asthma, or a breathing disorder. The reason of presenteeism was ranked in order as asthma, insomnia or a sleep disorder. The cost of the total economic impact on the workplace in this study was 8,851,838 won. The cost of absenteeism per worker was 8,390 won. The cost of presenteeism per worker was 941,732 won.

Conclusion

Presenteeism had a strong correlation to health conditions of the workers. Therefore, improving the work conditions of the workers is very important. If employers improve the health condition of workers, they will benefit from improved productivity in their business.

Keywords: Workers, Presenteeism, Absenteeism, Health

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General Characteristics of Workers (N=301)

Table 2

Health Problems of Workers Who Experienced at Last 4 Weeks^*

^*Multiple response.

Table 3

Absenteeism and Presenteeism of Workplace by Primary Health Conditionss

Table 4

Absenteeism and Presenteeism according to General Characteristics

^*p<.05; ^**p<.01.

Table 5

Ecomonic Impact of Workplace by Primary Health Conditions at Last 4 Weeks (Unit=won)

Table 6

Comparison of Economic Impact per One Worker at Last 4 Weeks (Unit=won)

^**p<.01.

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