Exploring the role of co-worker social support on health care utilization and sickness absence.

Abstract

To explore the association of baseline co-worker social support with follow-up measures of health care use and sickness absence. Data were obtained on 1240 employees from 33 worksites, through Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating, a group randomized weight maintenance trial. Co-worker social support, health care utilization, and absenteeism were assessed via a self-reported questionnaire. Generalized Estimating Equations were employed using STATA version 10. Higher baseline co-worker social support was significantly associated with a greater number of doctors' visits (P = 0.015). Co-worker social support was unrelated to number of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, or absenteeism. The relationship between co-worker social support and health care utilization and absenteeism is complex and uncertain. Future studies should measure more specific outcomes, incorporate important mediating variables, and distill how social networks influence these outcomes.