Effects of Headache on Working Ability: A Survey of an Urban and a Rural Population in Northern Finland

• Published in: Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain
• Main Authors: Nikiforow, Rita, Hokkanen, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1979
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.1979.hed1904214.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1526-4610.1979.hed1904214.x; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1526-4610.1979.hed1904214.x/fullpdf

SYNOPSISIn a headache survey in which a self‐administered questionnaire was used, the respondents were asked to estimate work absence frequency, effect on daily activities and disability due to headache. Work absence was not a common occurrence. Only 2632018 respondents (13%) who suffered from headaches were absent from work one or more days during the previous year. Of these, absence was estimated at 1–3 daysyear in 41%, and 7 days or less, in 55%. 28% stated that they had been absent but were unable to estimate the number of days. Self‐employed persons had a higher percentage of absence than other employed categories, and the rural self‐employed and rural housewives had the highest percentage of absence. 22% stated that headache did not affect their work, 26% were able to carry on by easing their pace of work, and 47% were forced to rest or lie down during an attack. In a random sample of 154 personally examined headache sufferers, vascular headaches were more incapacitating, but did not cause more frequent absence from work.