Healthy user bias

The healthy worker effect ( HWE ) refers to a statistical effect in epidemiological cohort studies, as the shows a better health status of workers in the total population. Therefore, the working population is often reported as statistically healthier.

This can be explained by the fact that within a cohort professionals must have a certain health condition, to carry out their work, while in the general population, among other things those people are included, which are due to illness incapacitated. This distorting effect implies that comparisons of the total population are generally problematic. The " healthy worker effect " can therefore lead to an underestimation of work-related morbidity, for which long-term night workers are a classic example in a three- shift operation.

Swell

• Baillargeon J. ( 2001). "Characteristics of the healthy worker effect. ". Occup Med 16 ( 2) :359 - 66th Review. PMID 11,319,057th

• Health
• Medical statistics