Associations of emotional burden and coping strategies with sick leave among healthcare professionals: A longitudinal observational study

Boris Cheval; Denis Mongin; Stéphane Cullati; Adriana Uribe; Jesper Pihl-Thingvad; Pierre Chopard; Delphine S Courvoisier

doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103869

Associations of emotional burden and coping strategies with sick leave among healthcare professionals: A longitudinal observational study

Int J Nurs Stud. 2021 Mar:115:103869. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103869. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Authors

Boris Cheval¹, Denis Mongin², Stéphane Cullati³, Adriana Uribe², Jesper Pihl-Thingvad⁴, Pierre Chopard², Delphine S Courvoisier²

Affiliations

¹ Quality of Care Service, Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss NCCR "LIVES: Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives", University of Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: boris.cheval@unige.ch.
² Quality of Care Service, Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Quality of Care Service, Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Population Health Laboratory, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; National Center of Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.

PMID: 33517081
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103869

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate 1) whether care-related regrets (regret intensity, number of recent regrets) are associated with sick leave, independently of personality traits, perceived safety climate, and physical activity; and 2) whether these associations were mediated or moderated by coping strategies.

Methods: Using a longitudinal international observational study (ICARUS), data were collected by the means of a weekly web survey. Descriptive and generalized estimation equations were performed.

Results: A total of 276 newly practicing healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians, others) from 11 countries were included in this study. The average proportion of weeks with at least one day of sick leave was 3.2%. Nurses' sick leave increased with number of care-related regrets (Relative Risk [RR]=1.52; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=[1.18; 1.95], p=.001), while physicians' sick leave increased with intensity of care-related regret (RR=1.21; 95%CI=[1.00; 1.21], p=.049). Coping was associated with lower risk of sick leave for nurses (RR _{problem-focused strategies} = 0.53; 95%CI=[0.37; 0.74], p=.001, and RR_{physical activity}=0.68; 95%CI:[0.54; 0.85], p<.001), but not for physicians. Nevertheless, the association of regret with sick leave remained significant even when adjusting for coping. Finally, this study did not find evidence of moderation by the coping strategies.

Conclusion: Regrets are associated with increased risks of sick leave, even in young healthcare professionals. Use of coping strategies partially mediated these associations in nurses. The results of this study should be used to inform interventions to reduce emotional burdens and enhance protective coping strategies.

Keywords: Coping strategy; Emotional burden; Newly healthcare professionals; Regrets; Sick leave.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Delivery of Health Care
Emotions
Health Personnel
Humans
Sick Leave*