Hand dermatitis among medical students from north Queensland, Australia.
Although hand dermatitis (HD) is a frequent occurrence for many health professionals, little is known about the prevalence of HD among medical students, particularly in Australia. A questionnaire-based survey of HD was administered to 261 students at a medical school in tropical northern Australia during 2004 (98.9% response rate). The prevalence of HD varied by year of study, ranging from 9.7% to 20.4% (P=0.322), with an overall prevalence of 17.4%. HD prevalence was significantly higher in those with current allergic disease (P=0.012). Some students (13.8%) reported a reaction immediately after exposure to latex products, a finding which was associated with higher prevalence of HD (P=0.001). HD may be more prevalent among students of a tropical Australian medical school than among their counterparts studied elsewhere. The identification of allergy as a significant correlate again stresses the importance of allergic disease and its relationship with skin conditions.
Leggat
Peter Adrian
PA
Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. peter.leggat@jcu.edu.au
Smith
Derek Richard
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires