JMIR Publications

Background:

Sickness absence among nurses has become a major issue facing health systems worldwide, directly affecting the quality and efficiency of health care services. Nurses are chronically exposed to factors such as high workloads, mental stress, and physical fatigue that may lead to frequent sickness absence.

Objective:

This study aims to assess the incidence of sickness absence among nurses and to explore associated risk factors.

Methods:

This systematic review and meta-analysis follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)-Protocols 2020 statement. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library will be searched from database inception to February 1, 2025, to identify eligible studies. Cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies investigating sickness absence in nurses will be included. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. All included literature will be scored using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Where appropriate, meta-analysis will be conducted using a random effects model to estimate the incidence of sickness absence and identify associated risk factors. Heterogeneity will be assessed using Cochran Q and I² statistics, and publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots and the Egger test.

Results:

The literature search and article screening began on February 1, 2025. Data extraction and analysis were completed on July 31, 2025. The manuscript has been completed and submitted for publication, and it is expected to be published in 2026. This review is expected to provide summary estimates of sickness absence among nurses and identify key organizational, occupational, and psychosocial risk factors that support evidence-based strategies to reduce sickness absence and improve nurse occupational health.

Conclusions:

This study will provide quantitative data on the incidence of sickness absence among nurses and identify key associated risk factors. The results of the study will help to reveal the main factors affecting nurses’ work status and health and provide theoretical support for the development of interventions to optimize the work environment and reduce sickness absence among nurses. Reducing absences may help to increase nursing staff job satisfaction, improve the quality of patient care, and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the health care system.

ClinicalTrial:

PROSPERO CRD42024590650; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024590650

International Registered Report:

DERR1-10.2196/82153