Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study

ObjectiveTo explore the association between the psychosocial work environment and the risk of sick leave among governmental employees with symptom-defined post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a workplace bomb attack.DesignA prospective study on employees who met the symptom criteria for PTSD....

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Main Authors: Trond Heir, Maria Teresa Grønning Dale, Alexander Nissen, Mona Berthelsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-02-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/2/e032693.full
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author Trond Heir
Maria Teresa Grønning Dale
Alexander Nissen
Mona Berthelsen
author_facet Trond Heir
Maria Teresa Grønning Dale
Alexander Nissen
Mona Berthelsen
author_sort Trond Heir
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo explore the association between the psychosocial work environment and the risk of sick leave among governmental employees with symptom-defined post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a workplace bomb attack.DesignA prospective study on employees who met the symptom criteria for PTSD. Questionnaire data on the psychosocial work environment 10 months after the terrorist attack was linked to registry data on doctor-certified sick leave in the period 12–22 months after the attack.SettingThe bombing of the government ministries in Oslo, Norway, 22 July 2011.ParticipantsThe study sample consists of 94 Norwegian governmental employees, all with symptom-defined PTSD from the Norwegian version of the PTSD checklist (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific) measured 10 months after the attack.ResultsAfter adjustment for sex and severity of PTSD symptoms, predictability at work reduced the odds of sick leave (adjusted OR=0.62, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.98). Sense of control over decisions at work was associated with fewer absence days for employees with sick leave (adjusted rate ratio=0.61, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.98).ConclusionsEmployees with PTSD after workplace terrorism would benefit from control over their workplace conditions and increased predictability to reduce the risk of sick leave. The findings suggest that the work environment can facilitate employees’ work ability after stressful events, independent of severity of PTSD symptoms.
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spelling doaj.art-ac1d04a728e24b94801cc890d89b5d352022-12-21T23:34:03ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-02-0110210.1136/bmjopen-2019-032693Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort studyTrond Heir0Maria Teresa Grønning Dale1Alexander Nissen2Mona Berthelsen31 Section for Trauma, catastrophes and forced migration, Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Nydalen, Norway 1 Section for Trauma, catastrophes and forced migration, Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Nydalen, Norway Division for Forced Migration and Disaster research, Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway1 Section for Trauma, catastrophes and forced migration, Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Nydalen, NorwayObjectiveTo explore the association between the psychosocial work environment and the risk of sick leave among governmental employees with symptom-defined post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a workplace bomb attack.DesignA prospective study on employees who met the symptom criteria for PTSD. Questionnaire data on the psychosocial work environment 10 months after the terrorist attack was linked to registry data on doctor-certified sick leave in the period 12–22 months after the attack.SettingThe bombing of the government ministries in Oslo, Norway, 22 July 2011.ParticipantsThe study sample consists of 94 Norwegian governmental employees, all with symptom-defined PTSD from the Norwegian version of the PTSD checklist (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific) measured 10 months after the attack.ResultsAfter adjustment for sex and severity of PTSD symptoms, predictability at work reduced the odds of sick leave (adjusted OR=0.62, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.98). Sense of control over decisions at work was associated with fewer absence days for employees with sick leave (adjusted rate ratio=0.61, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.98).ConclusionsEmployees with PTSD after workplace terrorism would benefit from control over their workplace conditions and increased predictability to reduce the risk of sick leave. The findings suggest that the work environment can facilitate employees’ work ability after stressful events, independent of severity of PTSD symptoms.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/2/e032693.full
spellingShingle Trond Heir
Maria Teresa Grønning Dale
Alexander Nissen
Mona Berthelsen
Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
BMJ Open
title Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
title_full Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
title_fullStr Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
title_short Post-traumatic stress reactions and doctor-certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack: Norwegian cohort study
title_sort post traumatic stress reactions and doctor certified sick leave after a workplace terrorist attack norwegian cohort study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/2/e032693.full
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