The aim of this study was to analyze the absenteeism rates and costs of healthcare workers who had contact with or tested positive for COVID-19 disease in terms of age, gender, marital status, infection status and title.
METHODS
In the study, absence data of personals who took sick leave due to COVID-19 at a university hospital were examined. In the data analysis, frequencies, percentages and absenteeism rates were calculated and multivariate hierarchical regression analysis was performed. Regression analysis was conducted in two separate periods, before and after vaccination to determine the effect of vaccination.
RESULTS
It has been determined that 45.59% of healthcare workers are absent due to COVID-19. The absenteeism rate due to COVID-19 was found to be 0.83. Age, infection status and title variables explain 50% of the cost of absenteeism in the pre-vaccination period and 37% in the post-vaccination period.
CONCLUSIONS
Among healthcare workers, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major cause of absenteeism and associated costs. The results are important in determining occupational health and safety and human resources policies in possible future outbreaks.
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