title: Factors associated with skin irritation of the hands experienced by general dental practitioners.
abstract: Practising dental surgeons are now wearing gloves for longer periods of time than any other comparable group. As part of a study to assess dentists' attitudes to cross-infection, a questionnaire was sent to 1950 randomly selected general dental practitioners in England and Wales, with information being requested concerning the incidence of skin irritation of the hands considered to be associated with glove wearing. The response to the questionnaire was 61%, with 29% of respondents indicating that they experienced skin irritation. A strong association was identified between pattern of glove wearing and incidence of skin irritation, with routine glove wearers being more likely to suffer skin irritation than occasional glove wearers. Female respondents were also more likely to have experienced skin irritation than male respondents. No association was identified between reported incidence of skin irritation and practising arrangements, years since graduation and number of years of glove wearing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D012408:Rubber