title: [Skin protection and skin disease prevention courses for secondary prevention in health care workers: first results after two years of implementation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers have an increased risk of occupational dermatoses. In January 2002, the Department of Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology of the University of Heidelberg started organizing special prevention courses for this group of employees in cooperation with the Accident Prevention & Insurance Association for Health Care Workers (BGW). The major aims are to improve individual skin protection and skin care habits, as well as to optimize diagnostic procedures and therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The two-day course has up to 14 participants. Teaching units mainly focus on skin structure and function, general aspects of occupational skin diseases, general information concerning skin protection and practical exercises emphasizing the correct use of skin cleansing and skin protection products. Additionally, every participant undergoes a dermatological examination including a detailed history and skin inspection. Individual skin protection strategies are developed, and the participants are provided with the opportunity to ask the dermatologist questions in confidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the 355 participants have been female (87.3%) with a mean age of 36.9 years. 95% had hand eczema, predominantly dyshidrotic morphology. In many cases, there was a mixture of atopic, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis but irritant contact dermatitis was most common (43%). Atopy was present in 68% of the patients. The participants rated the course as good to excellent. Other benefits are the exchange of experience between patients working in the same or similar occupations and transfer of the new knowledge to colleagues, family and friends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Examinations and advisory services in occupational dermatology are still fragmentary. Skin barrier creams and moisturizers are not sufficiently utilized in daily practice. In the future, similar courses should be offered for employees in other professions with an increased risk of occupational skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Klinische Sozialmedizin, Berufs- und Umweltdermatologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg. elke.Weisshaar@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radulescu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Ursel
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Diepgen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments