Physical and mental fatigue as predictors of sickness absence among Norwegian nurses
- 23 August 2013
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Research in Nursing & Health
- Vol. 36 (5), 453-465
- https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21558
Abstract
We investigated whether fatigue can be used to screen nursing populations for risk of sickness absence. Data were available from a prospective cohort study of 2,059 Norwegian nurses working in hospital care, psychiatric care, and nursing home/home care settings. Physical and mental fatigue were measured at baseline with Chalder's Fatigue Questionnaire (FQ). Self‐rated sickness absence at 1‐year follow‐up was considered high if nurses reported >30 sick days in the past year. Physical fatigue accurately predicted high sickness absence and adequately discriminated between high‐ and low‐risk nurses in nursing home/home care settings. Mental fatigue was not predictive in any setting. The FQ is suitable for screening specific nursing populations for the risk of high sickness absence. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 36: 453–465, 2013Keywords
Funding Information
- Helse Vest
- Norwegian Nurses Organisation
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