Predictors of Presenteeism among Nurses working at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan: A cross-sectional analytical study

Background: Nurses are considered the backbone of hospitals (healthcare institutions) who provide care for their patients despite being ill. This phenomenon of working while ill or suffering from a health condition is called presenteeism. Presenteeism is becoming a more prominent problem among healthcare providers, especially nurses. It has a variety of negative effects, including stress and burnout, decline in productivity and performance, and ultimately resulting in decreased quality of care. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compute presenteeism score and predict its associated factors among nurses working at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was utilized to assess presenteeism score and predict its associated factors among nurses. A total of 277 nurses were recruited for the study by using convenience sampling techniques. A socio-demographic questionnaire was used for participants’ characteristics and professional details, while a scale was used for assessing presenteeism score. Chi square test was used to analyze associated factors. Results: The overall mean presenteeism score obtained from the study was 18.28 with a standard deviation of ±2.70. Socio-demographic characteristics, including experience in years, and supervisor support, were found to have significant association with presenteeism. Regarding health-related problem, fatigue, digestive and respiratory issues, fever, headache, musculoskeletal complaints, cardiac issues, and menstrual pain in females, were found to be the predictors of presenteeism among nurses. Conclusions: This research suggests that presenteeism is linked to various health problems and has impacts on nurses and their quality of care. Understanding and addressing the underlying causes of presenteeism in the nursing profession is vital for promoting the overall health condition and productivity of healthcare staff and ensuring high-quality patient care.