Other Titles

Factors affecting work productivity loss among the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-correlation analysis [Poster Title]

Abstract

Backgrounds: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in work productivity across various sectors. Identifying the factors influencing the loss of work productivity during a pandemic can have significant implications for health promotion and management among workers.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate work productivity loss (including absenteeism and presenteeism) among workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing potential risk factors, such as demographic, individual, psychosocial, and organizational factors.

Design: We conducted a systematic review and meta-correlation analysis to identify risk factors influencing work productivity loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Review methods: Data were comprehensively searched across seven electronic databases. The literature search covered the period from each database's inception until December 2023. A total of 24 included studies assessed the risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. The data extracted from the included studies were analyzed using STATA 17.0.

Results: From the included studies, 11 factors—effort-reward imbalance, exhaustion, fear of COVID-19, general health status, job demands, job insecurity, job stress, mental health problems, safety climate, turnover intention, and well-being—were analyzed for their impact on workers' productivity loss. Among these factors, fear of COVID-19 (r=0.339, 95% CI 0.006 to 0.605, I2= 98.7%, p< .001), job stress (r=0.428, 95% CI 0.353 to 0.496, I2= 93.0%, p< .001), and mental health problems (r=0.336, 95% CI 0.052 to 0.570, I2= 97.3%, p< .001) were identified as having a medium or stronger positive correlation with productivity loss. In particular, fear of COVID-19 (r=0.523, 95% CI 0.010 to 0.817, I2=98.4%, p< .001) and mental health problems (r=0.506, 95% CI 0.144 to 0.748, I2=87.4%, p=.005) were found to have a relatively strong positive correlation with presenteeism. Additionally, general health status had a medium negative correlation with absenteeism (r=-0.310, 95% CI -0.312 to -0.308, I2= 0.0%, p=.691).

Conclusions: The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for planning health promotion strategies in workplaces, such as implementing health screenings and early interventions for physical and mental health problems, enhancing leave of absence systems, and providing social support for workforces by organizations.

Notes

References:

Bloom, N., Bunn, P., Mizen, P., Smietanka, P., & Thwaites, G. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 on productivity. Review of Economics and Statistics, 1-45.

Yaghoubi, M., Salimi, M., & Meskarpour-Amiri, M. (2022). Systematic review of productivity loss among healthcare workers due to Covid-19. The International journal of health planning and management, 37(1), 94–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3351

Lai J, Ma S, Wang Y, Cai Z, Hu J, Wei N, et al. Factors Associated with Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(3):e203976-e.

Description

This study, which analyzed potential risk factors impacting workers' productivity loss—including absenteeism and work-related absences—during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to provide readers with scientific evidence to support proactive health promotion strategies for workers.

Author Details

Jiyeon Jung, PhD; Inhae Cho, PhD; Jihyun Moon, PhD

Sigma Membership

Lambda Alpha at-Large

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Meta-Analysis/Synthesis

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Workforce, Public and Community Health, COVID-19, Loss of Productivity

Conference Name

36th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Seattle, Washington, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Click on the above link to access the poster.

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Factors Affecting Work Productivity Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Correlation Analysis

Seattle, Washington, USA

Backgrounds: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in work productivity across various sectors. Identifying the factors influencing the loss of work productivity during a pandemic can have significant implications for health promotion and management among workers.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate work productivity loss (including absenteeism and presenteeism) among workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing potential risk factors, such as demographic, individual, psychosocial, and organizational factors.

Design: We conducted a systematic review and meta-correlation analysis to identify risk factors influencing work productivity loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Review methods: Data were comprehensively searched across seven electronic databases. The literature search covered the period from each database's inception until December 2023. A total of 24 included studies assessed the risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. The data extracted from the included studies were analyzed using STATA 17.0.

Results: From the included studies, 11 factors—effort-reward imbalance, exhaustion, fear of COVID-19, general health status, job demands, job insecurity, job stress, mental health problems, safety climate, turnover intention, and well-being—were analyzed for their impact on workers' productivity loss. Among these factors, fear of COVID-19 (r=0.339, 95% CI 0.006 to 0.605, I2= 98.7%, p< .001), job stress (r=0.428, 95% CI 0.353 to 0.496, I2= 93.0%, p< .001), and mental health problems (r=0.336, 95% CI 0.052 to 0.570, I2= 97.3%, p< .001) were identified as having a medium or stronger positive correlation with productivity loss. In particular, fear of COVID-19 (r=0.523, 95% CI 0.010 to 0.817, I2=98.4%, p< .001) and mental health problems (r=0.506, 95% CI 0.144 to 0.748, I2=87.4%, p=.005) were found to have a relatively strong positive correlation with presenteeism. Additionally, general health status had a medium negative correlation with absenteeism (r=-0.310, 95% CI -0.312 to -0.308, I2= 0.0%, p=.691).

Conclusions: The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for planning health promotion strategies in workplaces, such as implementing health screenings and early interventions for physical and mental health problems, enhancing leave of absence systems, and providing social support for workforces by organizations.