Eighth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

In face of increasing hospital utilization and manpower shortage, many healthcare workers have reported to attend work due to sickness and non-sickness events, known as presenteeism behaviour. This study aims at identifying modifiable work and personal exposures that affect nurses work attendance decision-making in face of fluctuating hospital utilization rates (flu surges) and obtaining presenteeism-associated productivity costs amongst nurses (biggest healthcare occupational group). The 3-wave prospective study invited full-time Hong Kong public hospital nurses (n= 4703) at 3 highly utilized acute-care hospitals. Each participant was asked to complete a pre-validated survey 3 times. Productivity costing was carried out using human capital method. 88% of nurses have reported to work at least once while sick during last year. Study results will aid managers and government in future human-resources policy making to maintain a sustainable healthcare workforce without compromising quality of care in face of restricting budgets.