title: Self-reported hand eczema in a hospital population.
abstract: Occupational skin diseases are frequent in the healthcare sector. The objective of this study was to obtain baseline data on hand eczema and risk factors for hand eczema in an unselected hospital population. A questionnaire study on hand eczema and risk factors for hand eczema was performed among hospital employees at a middle-size Danish hospital. A total of 1909 employees from all job groups and all departments were included. Response rate was 65.3%. The overall frequency of self-reported hand eczema within the past 12 months was 23%. Divided into job groups, the frequencies varied from 8% to 32% and were significantly higher among assistant nurses (32%), nurses (30%), and nursing aids (27%). For the individual departments, the hand eczema frequencies varied from 7% to 50%, with the highest frequencies reported at medical and surgical wards. Occupational risk factors for hand eczema such as use of protective gloves and hand washing were significantly more frequent among respondents with hand eczema within the past year, which suggests a potential for prevention through workplace interventions. In conclusion, high frequencies of hand eczema were observed among assistant nurses, nurses, and nursing aids. Hand eczema was more frequent among women and in the younger age groups.
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. maf@nrcwe.dk
authors.forename: Mari-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Flyvholm
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Karen Frydendall
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Jepsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace