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Degree of employment, sick leave, and costs following notification of occupational contact dermatitis—A register‐based study
Author(s) -
Dietz Jojo B.,
Menné Torkil,
Meyer Harald W.,
Viskum Sven,
Flyvholm MariAnn,
AhrensbøllFriis Ulrik,
John Swen M.,
Johansen Jeanne D.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/cod.13719
Subject(s) - sick leave , unemployment , medicine , payment , job loss , temporary work , demography , work (physics) , economics , physical therapy , mechanical engineering , finance , sociology , engineering , economic growth
Background Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is the most commonly recognized occupational disease in Denmark. Objectives To examine the impact of recognized OCD on degree of employment, sick leave, unemployment, and job change. Methods Data on all recognized individuals with OCD notified in Denmark between 2010 and 2015 (n = 8940) were linked to information on social transfer payments in the years before and after notification. The number of weeks on unemployment benefits or sick leave and the degree of employment during the 2 years prior to notification was compared with the 2 years following notification. Results The degree of employment decreased on average 8.9 work‐hours/month, corresponding to an average annual loss of income per worker of approximately €1570. The average number of weeks that workers were receiving unemployment benefits and paid long‐term sick leave rose by 2.5 and 3.4 weeks, respectively, corresponding to an average additional annual cost per worker of approximately €420 and €770, respectively. Longer case‐processing time was significantly associated with lower degree of employment and higher levels of unemployment and sick leave. Conclusions OCD has a significant negative impact on employment and economics, thus highlighting the need for a national, strategic action plan for effective prevention of OCD.