Sick leave among home-care personnel: a longitudinal study of risk factors

Table 3 Self-reported factors related to work and associations with sick leave after 18 months due to any cause (Study group I)^a and due to neck, shoulder and/or back disorders (Study group II)^b.

	Number observed	Number observed	Odds Ratio	Odds Ratio	P value	P value
Variable	Study gp I ^a (n = 443) N (cases)	Study gp II ^b (n = 274) N (cases)	Study gp I OR (95%CI)	Study gp II OR (95%CI)	Study gp I	Study gp II
Perceived physical exertion at work [6^c -20]
- <15	212 (102)	134 (12)
- ≥15	229 (121)	140 (16)	1.21 (0.83–1.76)	1.33 (0.60–2.94)	0.318	0.487
Social support [1^d-10]
- >7.2	329 (168)	69 (9)
- ≤7.2]	114 (56)	201(19)	0.94 (0.61–1.44)	0.77 (0.32–1.81)	0.770	0.54
Decision latitude [1^d-10]
- >6.2	311 (159)	86 (12)
- ≤6.2	132 (65)	185 (16)	0.97 (0.64–1.46)	0.61 (0.27–1.37)	0.873	0.234
Psychological load [1^d-5]
- >2.6	303 (145)	183 (14)
- ≤2.6	140 (79)	88 (14)	1.44 (0.96–2.17)	2.15 (0.97–4.77)	0.077	0.060
Strain (Decⁿ-Lat^de + Psych load) [1^d-15]
- >8.8	321 (160)	194 (15)
- ≤8.8	122 (64)	77 (13)	1.16 (0.76–1.76)	2.35 (1.05–5.26)	0.500	0.037

^a All participants at baseline. ^b Participants who at baseline reported no sick leave due to neck, shoulder and/or back disorders during the preceding 12 months and who also answered the questionnaire at the 18-month follow-up. Minimum and maximum values are presented within square brackets. ^c Best possible value. ^d Worst possible value. CI = 95% confidence interval. Odds Ratios are adjusted for age and intervention

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