Alternative medicine,worker health,and absenteeism in the United States |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Cardiology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, 801, Heqing Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China;2. Shanghai Minhang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 201101, China;3. Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180, fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China;1. Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL & Dermatologie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium;2. Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium;3. Service de Pneumologie, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium;4. AIDS Reference Centre, Service de Médecine Interne, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium;5. Service d’infectiologie, Clinique Saint-Pierre, Ottignies, Belgium;1. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Road, Laurel, MD 20723, United States;2. University of South Australia, North Tce Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;1. Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China;2. First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China;1. Medical–Surgical Department, Faculty of Nursing, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;2. Community Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;1. Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;2. Department of Nursing, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan;3. Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan;4. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan;5. School of Nursing, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;6. Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;7. Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;8. Department of Brest surgery, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | Health related absenteeism costs an estimated $153 billion annually in the United States (Witters and Agrawal, 2011).1 Chronic conditions (major contributors to absenteeism) are often successfully managed by Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). As CAM becomes an increasingly visible component of healthcare, firms may wish to consider whether CAM therapies can help reduce illness-related absenteeism. This paper aims to extend the literature on healthcare utilization and absenteeism by exploring whether CAM treatment is associated with fewer workdays missed due to illness.MethodsUsing the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and propensity score matching (PSM), this study estimates the relationship between visits to CAM practitioners, health, and illness-related absenteeism.ResultsIn a sample of 8820 workers, the average annual number of workdays lost due to illness is 3.69. Visiting an acupuncturist correlates with lower absenteeism among men (1.182 fewer workdays missed, p < 0.05), whereas visiting a naturopathic doctor correlates with 2.359 and 2.521 fewer workdays missed for women and men, respectively (both p < 0.001). Active mind-body practices, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture treatments are all significantly associated with improved health.ConclusionsEstimates suggest that some CAM modalities correlate with lower absenteeism, and many correlate with improved health. Two limitations of this study are worth noting. First, a small proportion of the sample uses CAM, limiting the generalizability of results. Second, if health conscious individuals are more likely to use CAM, then health attitudes may be contributing to lower absenteeism among the treated. Further research is needed to identify a causal relationship between CAM treatment, health, and absenteeism. |
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| Keywords: | Illness-related absenteeism Health Complementary and alternative medicine |
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