Of Every 10 Healthcare Workers, 4 Work While Ill

Doctors issue sick notes and advise patients to rest at home, but can they do the same themselves? According to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control on 1 November 2017, during the 2014 – 2015 season, among every 10 healthcare workers, 4 continued working despite having influenza or similar illnesses.

During the 2014 – 2015 seasonal influenza period, 1914 healthcare workers completed an online questionnaire. It asked about fever, cough and sore throat indicating influenza or influenza-like illness, and about working arrangements.

A previous study showed that patients in contact with an ill healthcare worker have a 5 times greater risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Note: Influenza is a viral infection caused by influenza viruses. Also called flu, it is different from and more severe than the common cold. The table below shows the differences between flu and the common cold.

According to the Study Findings;

• Of the 1914 healthcare workers surveyed, 414 (% 21) reported influenza or influenza-like illness, and 183 (% 41) of these reported working while ill. Among these 414 healthcare workers, %57 reported seeing a doctor, and %25 of those examined were diagnosed with influenza.
• The study also analyzed working arrangements. Hospital staff were found more likely to work while ill than staff in outpatient clinics.
• When examining which healthcare workers most often worked while ill, physicians (% 63) and pharmacists (% 67) led the list.
• Age, years in the job and job characteristics did not affect the likelihood of working while ill.

Participants Gave at Least One of the Following Reasons for Having to Work While Ill:

• “I could still perform my duties.”
• “I did not feel ill enough to miss work.”
• “I had not thought I was contagious or could make others ill.”
• “I had a professional responsibility to my colleagues.”
• “It was difficult for me to find someone to replace me.”

Concern about financial loss from not working while ill was another factor.

Conclusion

Healthcare workers may be missing the bigger picture of their risk of spreading infection. Employers should also review the importance of infection control at work. Reassuring staff that they will not suffer financial loss may also help them get through illness more comfortably.