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Table 1 Five themes that impact school-based presenteeism and the risk and mitigation factors linked to the theme

From: Risk factors for school-based presenteeism in children: a systematic review

Themes that impact school-based presenteeism

Factors that increase risk of presenteeism

 

Factors that decrease risk of presenteeism

- Conflicting symptom perceptions between relevant individuals*

- Symptoms attributed to alternative causes

Perceptions about the illness / signs and symptom(s)

- Identifiable and measurable (e.g., a temperature)

- Severe or contagious

- High school absence

Children’s characteristics

- Country of education

- Relevant individuals* believe children’s claims of illness

- Children with high motivations (e.g., interest and enjoyment) toward school

- Children that were worried about lost education

- Children in transition periods

Children’s and parents’ motivations and attitudes towards school

- Parents that perceive presenteeism as unacceptable

- Lack of childcare

- Parents had employment worries

- School staff that feel pressured to keep unwell children in school

- Lack of medical knowledge among relevant individuals*

Organisational factors (including the school and parents’ employers)

- Parents’ employers support them when children were unwell

- Parents perceive school staff manage unwell children appropriately

- Parents were concerned about their unwell children

- Policies that penalise schools for ineffectively managing unwell children

- Policies that are vague about inclusion and exclusion criteria

- Policies that accept children who are taking medication for the illness (prescription and non-prescription)

School sickness policy

- Policies that mitigate the financial consequences associated with children staying at home when unwell

- Policies that adequately reflect day-to-day practices

  1. * Relevant individuals include parents, children, or school staff