A Study of Absenteeism, Presenteeism, and Common Mental Health Problems among Back-office Workers in a University Hospital
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Back-office workers provide critical support in healthcare settings. Given their various responsibilities, they are at risk for mental health issues that can negatively affect their work.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the factors associated with absenteeism, presenteeism and common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress, among back-office workers at a medical school.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 back-office employees at a medical school. Participants completed standardized questionnaires, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the absenteeism and presenteeism sections of the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and multivariable linear regression was applied to identify associated factors.
RESULTS: ICC values for absenteeism and presenteeism ranged from 0.471 to 0.814, indicating moderate to good reliability. Most participants were female (77.6%), with a mean age of 37.7 years. Depression was significantly associated with lower work performance, as measured by absolute (β=-0.53, p<0.001) and relative presenteeism (β=-0.25, p=0.044). Stress was also positively associated with relative presenteeism (β=0.24, p=0.020).
CONCLUSIONS: Depression appears to be a key mental health factor negatively impacting work performance, especially presenteeism, among back-office workers at a medical school. These findings highlight the importance of mental health support to improve productivity at academic institutions.
Thaiclinicaltrials.org number, TCTR20251219003
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