Single item presenteeism question: Reliability and validity of Persian version in participants with low back pain

BACKGROUND

Single item presenteeism question (SIPQ) is a rating scale to assess the impact of low back pain (LBP) on presenteeism.

OBJECTIVE

To translate the SIPQ into Persian language (SIPQ-P) and evaluate the reliability and validity of the SIPQ-P in participants with LBP.

METHODS

In the first stage, the English SIPQ was translated into Persian language in a cross-sectional design following standard forward-backward approach with expert panel review and pilot testing. In the second stage with a prospective cohort design, 100 participants with LBP (84 male and 16 female, mean age±SD: 33.9±11.2 years) participated. Participants were asked to answer the SIPQ-P and rate their LBP from 0 to 10 according to the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) for concurrent criterion validity. To evaluate the convergent construct validity of SIPQ, participants completed Persian Functional Rating Index (PFRI). For the divergent validity, the Spearman's correlation test was used to evaluate the association between the SIPQ-P and education. For the test-retest reliability, 50 participants answered the SIPQ-P after 7 days. Fifty healthy participants (mean age±SD: 24.24±8.07 years) answered the SIPQ-P for evaluating discriminant validity.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the SIPQ-P score of participants and the healthy participants (p <  0.001). The concurrent criterion validity was demonstrated by a significant correlation between the SIPQ-P and pain NPRS (Spearman's rho = 0.46, p <  0.001). The Spearman correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between the SIPQ-P scores and the Persian FRI (r = 0.56, p <  0.001). There was no correlation between the SIPQ-P score and the education level (r = -0.001, p = 0.99). The ICCagreement was 0.77 indicating a very good test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the Persian version of SIPQ is a reliable and valid scale to assess the effect of LBP on presenteeism in Persian speakers with LBP.

The Estimation and Inclusion of Presenteeism Costs in Applied Economic Evaluation: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Given the significant costs of reduced productivity (presenteeism) in comparison to absenteeism, and overall societal costs, presenteeism has a potentially important role to play in economic evaluations. However, these costs are often excluded. The objective of this study is to review applied cost of illness studies and economic evaluations to identify valuation methods used for, and impact of including presenteeism costs in practice.

METHODS

A structured systematic review was carried out to explore (i) the extent to which presenteeism has been applied in cost of illness studies and economic evaluations and (ii) the overall impact of including presenteeism on overall costs and outcomes. Potential articles were identified by searching Medline, PsycINFO and NHS EED databases. A standard template was developed and used to extract information from economic evaluations and cost of illness studies incorporating presenteeism costs.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies were included in the systematic review which also demonstrated that presenteeism costs are rarely included in full economic evaluations. Estimation and monetisation methods differed between the instruments. The impact of disease on presenteeism whilst in paid work is high.

CONCLUSIONS

The potential impact of presenteeism costs needs to be highlighted and greater consideration should be given to including these in economic evaluations and cost of illness studies. The importance of including presenteeism costs when conducting economic evaluation from a societal perspective should be emphasised in national economic guidelines and more methodological work is required to improve the practical application of presenteeism instruments to generate productivity cost estimates.

Presenteeism in the New Zealand senior medical workforce-a mixed-methods analysis

AIM

To estimate rates of presenteeism in the New Zealand senior medical workforce and identify reasons why this workforce feels pressured to work through illness.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was returned by 1,806/3,740 publically employed senior doctors and dentists (48%). Relationships between rates of presenteeism, sick leave and demographic factors were explored alongside views on cultural and professional norms.

RESULTS

Presenteeism was reported by 88% of respondents. Women and younger doctors had highest rates of presenteeism. Reasons for presenteeism included difficulties accessing short-term sickness cover and concern for the impact of sick leave on patients as well as sociocultural norms.

CONCLUSIONS

Presenteeism is a widespread behavioural norm in this medical workforce. Choosing whether to work through illness reflects the high value placed on duty of care, but also tensions around defining responsible behaviour in this regard.