Background: Nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) have high sickness absence rates in Canada. Whilst the evidence-based literature helped to identify the variables related to sickness absenteeism, understanding "why" remains unknown. This information could benefit the healthcare sector in northeastern Ontario and in locations where healthcare is one of the largest employment sectors and where nursing staff have high absence and turnover rates.
Objective: To identify and understand the factors associated with sickness absence among nurses and PSWs through several experiences while investigating if there are northern-related reasons to explain the high rates of sickness absence.
Methods: In this descriptive qualitative study, focus group sessions took place with registered nurses (n = 6), registered practical nurses (n = 4), PSWs (n = 8), and key informants who specialize in occupational health and nursing unions (n = 5). Focus group sessions were transcribed verbatim followed by inductive thematic analysis.
Results: Four main themes emerged, which were occupational/organizational challenges, physical health, emotional toll on mental well-being, and northern-related challenges. Descriptions of why such factors lead to sickness absence were addressed with staff shortage serving as an underlying factor.
Conclusion: Despite the complexity of the manifestations of sickness absence, work support and timely debriefing could reduce sickness absence and by extension, staff shortage.
Keywords: Qualitative study; focus groups; nurses; personal support workers; thematic analysis.