Until Recently, Most People Were Ready To Go To Work With A Cold - Survey

Until recently, most people were ready to go to work with a cold - survey

The international study was conducted in 2018-2019. It is noteworthy that half of its participants are medical workers. Scientists believe the survey results are still relevant today.

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The survey, which included respondents from 49 countries, recalled that people often continue to go to work if they feel flu symptoms. If anything, it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are published in PLoS One magazine.

The study was conducted in 2018-2019, but its authors consider the results to be gloomy, since they are important for the prevention of COVID-19. Observers of the ScienceAlert website note that the period covered by the survey preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, so now the attitude of people towards colds symptoms could change significantly. The pre-pandemic data reminds of how often people could, or still can, attend work sick.

533 people took part in the online survey, 46.7% of the participants were medical professionals.

It turned out that going to work during illness was not related to the profession; this tendency was equally expressed among representatives of different specialties. A total of 312 people said they would go to work with flu symptoms, including sore throat, muscle pain, fever, chills.

In the case of milder colds, even more people were ready to go to work: almost all health workers and up to 96% of representatives of other professions. The study authors noted that this is contrary to international guidelines.

“The situation was serious even before COVID-19, when we were fighting the flu and other colds. But now that the coronavirus has emerged, it has become even more important not to go to work while sick,”said Peter Collignon, a professor at the Australian National University and co-author of the study.

The study authors emphasized that going to work while sick is not only associated with a lack of understanding of the dangers to others. Organizational culture, employer policies, and the financial difficulties associated with non-attendance play an important role.