Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.

<h4>Introduction</h4>Sickness absenteeism among the nurses in Malaysia is not fully understood. Complicated with the increase in workload and mental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and the manifestation of long COVID-19 symptoms, there is a need for an updated insight on the prevalen...

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Main Authors: Halim Ismail, Zhe Shen Huam, Sheng Qian Yew, Hanis Ahmad, Chan Chee Hoong David, Mohd Hafiz Baharudin, Nor Azila Muhd Aris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314763
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author Halim Ismail
Zhe Shen Huam
Sheng Qian Yew
Hanis Ahmad
Chan Chee Hoong David
Mohd Hafiz Baharudin
Nor Azila Muhd Aris
author_facet Halim Ismail
Zhe Shen Huam
Sheng Qian Yew
Hanis Ahmad
Chan Chee Hoong David
Mohd Hafiz Baharudin
Nor Azila Muhd Aris
author_sort Halim Ismail
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Introduction</h4>Sickness absenteeism among the nurses in Malaysia is not fully understood. Complicated with the increase in workload and mental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and the manifestation of long COVID-19 symptoms, there is a need for an updated insight on the prevalence and the risk factors of sickness absenteeism among nurses in Malaysia. As such, we designed a study protocol that assess the prevalence and risk factors of sickness absenteeism among nurses in Malaysia in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>This is a correlational cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, sickness absenteeism questionnaire, job characteristics questionnaire, Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ), Work-Related Strain Inventory (WRSI), Work and Family Conflict Scale (WAFCS), the COVID-19-related workplace worries questionnaire, as well as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21) questionnaire will be randomly distributed to 166 nurses from October 2024 to May 2025.<h4>Discussion</h4>While physical illnesses, psychological disorders, job-related factors, and sociodemographic factors have been identified as risk factors to sickness absenteeism among healthcare professionals in general, the role of these risk factors in causing sickness absenteeism among the nurses remains unclear. Additionally, the increased stress and workload faced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, may have further impacted sickness absenteeism.<h4>Conclusion</h4>By examining the various risk factors of sickness absenteeism, especially in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, this research will inform future targeted interventions to reduce sickness absenteeism among Malaysian nurses and its associated consequences.
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spelling doaj-art-d2a49b97a6af4db68b564e6e3c09dc652025-08-20T03:48:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e031476310.1371/journal.pone.0314763Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.Halim IsmailZhe Shen HuamSheng Qian YewHanis AhmadChan Chee Hoong DavidMohd Hafiz BaharudinNor Azila Muhd Aris<h4>Introduction</h4>Sickness absenteeism among the nurses in Malaysia is not fully understood. Complicated with the increase in workload and mental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and the manifestation of long COVID-19 symptoms, there is a need for an updated insight on the prevalence and the risk factors of sickness absenteeism among nurses in Malaysia. As such, we designed a study protocol that assess the prevalence and risk factors of sickness absenteeism among nurses in Malaysia in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>This is a correlational cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, sickness absenteeism questionnaire, job characteristics questionnaire, Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ), Work-Related Strain Inventory (WRSI), Work and Family Conflict Scale (WAFCS), the COVID-19-related workplace worries questionnaire, as well as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21) questionnaire will be randomly distributed to 166 nurses from October 2024 to May 2025.<h4>Discussion</h4>While physical illnesses, psychological disorders, job-related factors, and sociodemographic factors have been identified as risk factors to sickness absenteeism among healthcare professionals in general, the role of these risk factors in causing sickness absenteeism among the nurses remains unclear. Additionally, the increased stress and workload faced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, may have further impacted sickness absenteeism.<h4>Conclusion</h4>By examining the various risk factors of sickness absenteeism, especially in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, this research will inform future targeted interventions to reduce sickness absenteeism among Malaysian nurses and its associated consequences.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314763
spellingShingle Halim Ismail
Zhe Shen Huam
Sheng Qian Yew
Hanis Ahmad
Chan Chee Hoong David
Mohd Hafiz Baharudin
Nor Azila Muhd Aris
Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
PLoS ONE
title Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
title_full Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
title_fullStr Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
title_full_unstemmed Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
title_short Sickness absenteeism among nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A study protocol.
title_sort sickness absenteeism among nurses after the covid 19 pandemic a study protocol
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314763
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