The Relationship Between Absenteeism, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Noise Annoyance Among Hospital Employees

Background: musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among working populations and constitute one of the leading causes of occupational absenteeism, resulting in substantial economic burdens worldwide. moreover, noise annoyance caused by exposure to various persistent noise sources in healthcare environments represents a significant occupational factor contributing to employee absenteeism. this study aimed to investigate the relationship between absenteeism, musculoskeletal disorders, and noise annoyance among hospital staff.materials and methods: this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 hospital employees with at least one year of work experience. data collection instruments were the nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, which comprises both general and specific sections on msds, the absenteeism questionnaire, and the 10-point iso 15666 noise annoyance scale.results: the mean number of sick leave days was 12.03 ± 9.52, entitlement leave days 29.7 ± 9.5, and unpaid leave days 0.69 ± 0.05. mild pain was reported in the neck (52%), shoulders (39%), wrists (37%), and lower back (39%). severe and very severe lower back pain was reported by 22% and 12% of the participants, respectively. moreover, a statistically significant association was observed between absenteeism and job type (p = 0.011), noise annoyance (p = 0.044), and musculoskeletal disorders among physicians and technicians (p < 0.001), as well as among nurses (p = 0.009).conclusion: considering the influence of musculoskeletal disorders and noise annoyance on occupational absenteeism, implementing targeted educational programs, making ergonomic improvements at workstations, optimizing physical activity, and redesigning equipment can effectively reduce the incidence of these disorders and thereby minimize absenteeism in healthcare settings.