Sickness absence due to peptic ulcers.

According to an estimate made by Avery Jones and Pollak (1945), 1,500,000 men and women in England and Wales suffer from peptic ulcer, and Bockus (1943) expressed the general opinion when he said that " Well over 10 per cent. of all adults of the male sex have or have had an ulcer." It is therefore of considerable interest to determine the significance of peptic ulcer to industry, in terms of sickness absence. During a survey undertaken to study occupational factors in the tetiology of peptic ulcer, it was possible to determine the sickness experience of a number of men with peptic ulcers and to compare it with the experience ofmen ofthe same age employed in the same occupation. All the men employed in a number of firms were interviewed by a social worker and particulars of their occupations were recorded, together with any symptoms of dyspepsia. Men who had had a peptic ulcer or who had symptoms of major dyspepsia were referred for a medical interview. They were accepted as having had a peptic ulcer only if a radiological or operative diagnosis had been made at hospital or if they had had a frank haematemesis; in addition, a small number were diagnosed radiologically in the course of the survey. Confirmation of the diagnosis was obtained directly from the hospital or doctor concerned in 77 per cent. of the cases, but when no medical evidence could be obtained (due to lack of records etc.) the men's statements were accepted. It is unlikely that this can have introduced much error as, when medical evidence was available, it conflicted with the men's statements in only 6 per cent. of the cases.