HOW TO MEASURE SICKNESS ABSENCE - LITERATURE-REVIEW AND SUGGESTION OF5 BASIC MEASURES

Objective - To examine different sick-leave measures used in sickness absence research, and to suggest a systematic way of assessing sicknes s absence. Methods - A review and analysis of five major studies on si ck-leave performed 1983-1988 with an epidemiological approach. Results - Terminology and measures used varied in the different studies revie wed. The choice of a certain measure was seldom discussed in relation to the aim of the study. Based on the review five measures are suggest ed: frequency, length, incidence rate, cumulative incidence and durati on. The definition of incidence rate is new and is a measure useful in studies of recurrent events within epidemiology. Conclusions - We hav e reviewed sick-leave measures previously used in the literature and s uggested five basic measures for assessing sick-leave.