Forte Funding for Research on Sick Leave Among Assistant Nurses
What explains the high sick leave rate among assistant nurses in elderly care – and how can their working conditions be improved? A new research project aims to provide answers. The project has been granted funding from Forte within the area of working life and is led by Karin Hederos, Anna Sandberg, and Ylva Moberg.
Karin Hederos, Ylva Moberg och Anna Sandberg. Photo: Magnus Dahl
Assistant nurse in elderly care is Sweden’s most common occupation – and also the one with the highest rate of sick leave. The project consists of four interconnected studies that will explore: the effects of split shifts, the impact of workplace threats and violence, the role of pregnancy and parenthood, and what working condition improvements assistant nurses themselves value most.
"This is about understanding both the causes of sick leave and which changes would make the greatest difference in assistant nurses’ daily work lives," says Anna Sandberg.
The researchers will use register data and surveys, and aim to develop concrete recommendations that contribute to a more sustainable work environment and improved quality of care.
Labour economics is a very broad research field. In addition to research on labour market outcomes, such as wages and employment, the AME unit studies both elementary and higher education, health, taxes and income transfers, politics, crime and punishment, and gender equality.
Research at the Social Policy unit includes investigating explanations for the development of the welfare state, as well as the effects of social policy on an individual and societal level, often in an international comparative perspective and with quantitative research methods.
