Journal article
Presenteeism Among Health Care Personnel With COVID-19
JAMA network open, Vol.8(12), e2546405
12/01/2025
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.46405
PMCID: PMC12676355
PMID: 41335438
Abstract
Presenteeism-defined as continuing to work during an illness-poses a public health risk in the workplace and is especially hazardous within health care institutions where vulnerable patients may be exposed to nosocomial infections. Understanding the frequency and characteristics of health care personnel (HCP) who report presenteeism while ill with COVID-19 may help mitigate SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals and other health care institutions.
To determine the frequency of presenteeism among HCP with symptomatic COVID-19, and to evaluate the demographic, occupational, and clinical factors associated with it.
This is an observational cohort study that uses data from the Preventing Emerging Infections Through Vaccine Effectiveness Testing (PREVENT) project: a test-negative, case-control vaccine effectiveness study that enrolled HCP who had COVID-19 symptoms at 24 academic medical centers from December 2020 through April 2024.
Exposures include demographic, occupational, and clinical characteristics of participants.
Having confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 infection and reporting presenteeism; overall frequency of presenteeism through the study period and the association of the exposure characteristics with presenteeism, adjusting for confounders using 3 multivariable models. Presenteeism was defined as HCP who did not stop working during their illness, but the study did not differentiate whether they continued working remotely.
A total of 3721 HCP were included in the analysis (2842 [76.4%] aged 18-49 years; 2993 [80.4%] female; 278 [7.5%] Asian, 406 [10.9%] Black, and 2912 [78.3%] White). Overall, 293 (7.9%) reported presenteeism during the study period, and the frequency of presenteeism increased each year of the study period (from 1 of 73 [1.4%] in 2020 to 16 of 105 [15.2%] in 2024). Presenteeism was associated with HCP who have minimal patient contact (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.73; 95% CI, 2.39-4.37), a graduate or professional degree (aOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.45-2.50), and income over $100 000 (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.12-2.69).
In this observational cohort study of 3721 HCP, there was an increasing frequency of presenteeism from 2020 through 2024, and job role and socioeconomic factors were associated. More studies are needed to understand the rationale behind the decision to continue working and the exact causes of presenteeism's rising incidence among HCP with COVID-19.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Presenteeism Among Health Care Personnel With COVID-19
- Creators
- James C Crosby - University of Alabama at BirminghamEliezer Santos Leon - University of IowaBrian Chinnock - University of California, San FranciscoKarisa K Harland - University of IowaAnusha Krishnadasan - University of California, Los AngelesNicholas M Mohr - University of IowaIan D Plumb - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMelissa Briggs Hagen - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionKelli Wallace - University of IowaDavid A Talan - University of California, Los AngelesProject PREVENT NetworkAlysia Powers - University of IowaJacob Hampton - University of IowaAnne Zepeski - University of IowaTracy Young - University of IowaBrett Faine - University of IowaHoward A Smithline - Baystate Medical CenterLilly C Lee - Jackson Memorial HospitalStephen C Lim - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New OrleansGregory J Moran - University of California, Los AngelesMark T Steele - University of Missouri–Kansas CityDavid G Beiser - University of ChicagoJohn P Haran - University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolPeter C Hou - Brigham and Women's HospitalUtsav Nandi - University of MississippiWalter A Schrading - University of Alabama at BirminghamAnne Chipman - University of Washington School of MedicineFrank LoVecchio - Valleywise HealthLisandra Uribe - Olive View-UCLA Medical CenterKavitha Pathmarajah - Olive View-UCLA Medical CenterDean M Hashimoto - Brigham and Women's HospitalChloe Namias - Jackson Health SystemEfrat Kean - Thomas Jefferson UniversityElizabeth Krebs - Thomas Jefferson UniversityAmy Stubbs - University Health, Kansas City, MissouriSara Roy - University of ChicagoLucia Solis - University of Mississippi Medical CenterMary Mulrow - Valleywise HealthNathan Graff - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionJillian M Tozloski - Baystate Medical CenterWilliam Mower - University of California, Los AngelesJacqueline Caldera - University of California, Los AngelesMichelle Huber - University Medical Center New OrleansAbigail Lopes - University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolKatherine Elkort - University of WashingtonStephanie A Eucker - Durham VA Health Care SystemCarla Kingsbury - Duke UniversityJonathan Femling - University of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterSilas Bussmann - University of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterJane Yee - University of UtahJoseph Stuppy - University of UtahRichard E Rothman - Johns Hopkins UniversityGaby Dashler - Johns Hopkins MedicineMarcel E Curlin - Oregon Health & Science UniversityMastura Wahedi - Oregon Health & Science UniversityLaurie Kemble - University of Missouri–Kansas City
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JAMA network open, Vol.8(12), e2546405
- DOI
- 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.46405
- PMID
- 41335438
- PMCID
- PMC12676355
- NLM abbreviation
- JAMA Netw Open
- ISSN
- 2574-3805
- eISSN
- 2574-3805
- Publisher
- AMER MEDICAL ASSOC
- Grant note
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): U01CK000643 Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of IowaNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health: UL1TR002537
This project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (grant No. U01CK000643). The project is additionally supported by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa through a grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health (grant No. UL1TR002537).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Emergency Medicine; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Anesthesia; Injury Prevention Research Center; Law Faculty; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985089807502771
Metrics
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