Lavigne J; Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy. Meeting.
Abstr Acad Health Serv Res Health Policy Meet. 2000; 17: UNKNOWN.
Presented by: Jill Lavigne, M.S., M.P.H., Doctoral Candidate, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Box 644 HWH, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642. Tel: 716-275-9496; Fax: 716-461-4532; e-mail: Jill_Lavigne@urmc.rochester.edu
Research Objective: Diabetics work for years or even decades before exiting the workforce. Yet, little research has examined the effects of the disease and its treatment on patients' productivity at work and at home and their participation in social activities. The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not diabetes is associated with lower levels of productivity and social participation among employed people. Other goals include the identification of treatments associated with productivity and the development of a total cost model.Study Design: Productivity measures include absences, work efficiency, work history and income. Work efficiency measurements were based on the survey methods developed by Osterhaus, et al. and van Roijen, et al. Survey items also included SF-36 items and detailed questions about job tasks and titles, job satisfaction, demographics, health care utilization and diabetic symptoms. Survey data was linked to clinical data plus health plan claims and membership data. The productivity items were completed by 72 diabetics and more than 362 non-diabetics. P-values are reported for T-tests. Regression models are under development. Population Studied: Diabetics and non-diabetics of working age. Principal Findings: Diabetics attended work as often as non-diabetics, yet they were more often unwell at work. When unwell at work, diabetics were less productive, on average, than non-diabetics who were also unwell. The combined result was that diabetics lost the equivalent of seven hours of work time per month while non-diabetics lost only four hours, on average (p = 0.03). Yet, the value of the productivity losses was not significantly different because diabetics typically earned $10,000 less per year (p < 0.02). Productivity differences were even more pronounced in the area of housework. Diabetics missed an average of 2.2 days of housework per month, while non-diabetics missed only 0.8 days (p<0.007). The groups missed the same number of social activities. Conclusions: Diabetics appear to be less productive at work and at home due to their health. The cost of these productivity losses appears to be borne in part by the diabetic employees themselves, who report incomes that average $10,000 less per year than their non-diabetic peers. Lower average incomes suggest that even small decrements in productivity can have a significant effect when they accumulate over many years. The pattern of productivity losses across work, housework and social activities suggests that diabetics typically make work a priority, followed by social activities and housework. Implications for Policy, Delivery or Practice: These results suggest that diabetes has a significant effect on careers, income and the ability to manage a household. Given the importance of these factors in predicting health outcomes and the future of children in these households, these effects should be considered when evaluating diabetes treatments and designing health care benefits. Further research may identify opportunities to invest in medical care services that reduce total costs.Primary Funding Source: A dissertation grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Child
- Costs and Cost Analysis
- Data Collection
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- Efficiency
- Employment
- Family Characteristics
- Health Services Research
- Humans
- Income
- Job Satisfaction
- Work
- economics
- hsrmtgs
Other ID:
UI: 102272239
From Meeting Abstracts