Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):151-160 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3499

The Influence of Sick Leave Frequency Determinants on Homogeneous Groups in Two Socio-economically Comparable, but Socio-culturally Different Regions in the Netherlands

Willibrord Beemsterboer1, Roy Stewart2, Johan Groothoff2, Frans Nijhuis1
1 Department of Health Organisation, Policy and Economics; University of Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands
2 Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of sick leave frequency determinants on in terms of age and profession homogeneous groups in two socio-economically comparable, but socio-culturally different regions in the Netherlands, i.e. Utrecht (mean frequency 1.10 spells) and South Limburg (mean frequency 1.92 spells). In addition, to get an idea of the study's topical interest, a literature review on sick leave frequency determinants covering the past few decades was performed.

Material and methods: 184 participants in the Utrecht and South Limburg regions were interviewed on work, individual and health characteristics. Sick leave frequency data were obtained from a social fund. For the literature review (inter)national scientific journals, academic theses and Medline were consulted.

Results: A comparison of sick leave frequency in the two regions showed that, in South Limburg, the determinants called 'opinion on socialmedical support during sick leave', 'type of appointment' and 'annual number of visits (family doctor)' were associated with sick leave frequency whereas this was not the case in Utrecht. The literature review presented a highly consistent picture of determinants of sick leave frequency over the last few decades.

Conclusions: In the two regions studied, different determinants appeared to be associated with sick leave frequency. This phenomenon is attributed to the different socio-cultural characters of the regions. As per region different determinants appeared to be associated with sick leave frequency, nationwide interventions to reduce sick leave frequency should take into account the potential influence of regional differences in determinants that predict sick leave frequency. Sick leave frequency determinants have not changed in the past few decades. Although the study was performed in the nineties, its results are still relevant.

Keywords: regions, homogeneous groups, sick leave frequency, determinants, the Netherlands

Received: May 4, 2008; Revised: August 22, 2008; Accepted: August 22, 2008; Published: December 1, 2008  Show citation

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Beemsterboer W, Stewart R, Groothoff J, Nijhuis F. The Influence of Sick Leave Frequency Determinants on Homogeneous Groups in Two Socio-economically Comparable, but Socio-culturally Different Regions in the Netherlands. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2008;16(4):151-160. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3499. PubMed PMID: 19256281.
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