Effectiveness of a mHealth Coaching Program on Predictors of Work Absenteeism

Health-related work absenteeism has an extensive economic and societal impact. Digital health interventions at the workplace can play a beneficial role in reducing the risks of absenteeism. However, the effects of these health interventions are rarely explored in terms of predicting work absenteeism. This paper presents the outcomes of a six month coaching-based digital health intervention. In this intervention, employees receive health or lifestyle coaching by using a smartphone app. We define eight predictors of absenteeism based on an extensive validated health check that the participants have filled throughout the program participation. The predictors are related to mental health, work ability, work stress, physical activity, perceived health and need to recovery after work. We show statistically significant effects of change in multiple predictors of absenteeism as a result of being part of the intervention. Additionally, we define multiple app usage scores founded on the coaching-based smartphone app. They are related to frequency of coach-coachee communication or doing healthy activities. We correlate these app scores with the predictors of absenteeism scores, and detect moderately-strong and significant correlations.