O-143 the Burden of Sickness Absenteeism Among Healthcare Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis in a University Children’s Emergency Hospital in the North-East of Romania

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic, with massive absenteeism from work due to sickness and quarantine, has put pressure on healthcare workers. Our study compared staff illness patterns in a pediatric emergency clinical university hospital during the pandemic with pre-pandemic years. Methods A retrospective analysis of temporary sickness incapacity was carried out using medical leaves data from 2017-2019 compared with 2020-2022. Results The sick leaves of 1217 employees were classified by disease groups. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of medical certificates showed an increasing trend. The highest number of employees on medical leave was in 2020 (24.2%). In 2021 and 2022, the number of sick leaves decreased, but the number of days/persons increased. 986 days of leave were recorded for SARS-CoV2 infection, with an average of 8.15 days/case. Discussion Prolonged sick leave was taken by healthcare workers with pre-existing conditions and early pandemic infections.. Those confirmed with COVID-19 were absent for a variable length of time depending on the course of the disease. Cases of respiratory illness increased in March 2020, paralleling the trajectory of the COVID-19 curve and decreased since 2021 due to mask use and vaccination. After returning to work, some workers required long-term follow-up in various specialties, resulting in days of temporary incapacity to work. Conclusion In times of health crisis, implementing measures to minimize sickness absenteeism among health workers is vital to maintain an effective health system and a work environment suitable for all workers. Ethics approval The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children Iasi.