ArticleBMJ open2019
Occasional and persistent frequent attenders and sickness absences in occupational health primary care: a longitudinal study in Finland.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Examining the characteristics of patients with long-term impaired work ability in primary health care - a cross-sectional study.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Occupational health patients' parallel use of primary- and secondary-care services and linkage to work disability: A follow-up study in Finland.Scandinavian journal of public health · 2024Article
- Use of Health Services and Rehabilitation before and after the Beginning of Long-Term Sickness Absence-Comparing the Use by Employment and Disability Pension Transition after the Sickness Absence in Finland.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Article
- Article
- Sociodemographic characteristics and disability pensions of frequent attenders in occupational health primary care - a follow-up study in Finland.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Frequent short sickness absence, occupational health service utilisation and long-term sickness absence due to mental disorders among young employees.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2021Article
- Frequent attenders of three outpatient health care schemes in Finland: characteristics and association with long-term sickness absences, 2016-2018.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Socioeconomic Differences in Occupational Health Service Utilization and Sickness Absence Due to Mental Disorders: A Register-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Frequent attenders at risk of disability pension: a longitudinal study combining routine and register data.Scandinavian journal of public health · 2020Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesFrequent attenders (FAs) create a substantial portion of primary care workload but little is known about FAs' sickness absences. The aim of the study is to investigate how occasional and persistent frequent attendance is associated with sickness absences among the working population in occupational health (OH) primary care. SETTING AND
participantsThis is a longitudinal study using medical record data (2014-2016) from an OH care provider in Finland. In total, 59 676 patients were included and categorised into occasional and persistent FAs or non-FAs. Sick-leave episodes and their lengths were collected along with associated diagnostic codes. Logistic regression was used to analyse associations between FA status and sick leaves of different lengths (1-3, 4-14 and ≥15 days).
resultsBoth occasional and persistent FA had more and longer duration of sick leave than non-FA through the study years. Persistent FAs had consistently high absence rates. Occasional FAs had elevated absence rates even 2 years after their frequent attendance period. Persistent FAs (OR=11 95% CI 7.54 to 16.06 in 2016) and occasional FAs (OR=2.95 95% CI 2.50 to 3.49 in 2016) were associated with long (≥15 days) sickness absence when compared with non-FAs. Both groups of FAs had an increased risk of long-term sick leaves indicating a risk of disability pension.
conclusionBoth occasional and persistent FAs should be identified in primary care units caring for working-age patients. As frequent attendance is associated with long sickness absences and possibly disability pensions, rehabilitation should be directed at this group to prevent work disability.
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