title: A 7-step consultation plan for health care workers and hairdressers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin diseases are among the most common occupational disorders in health care workers and hairdressers. Optimal prevention methods make it possible for more individuals to remain active in their profession. We devised a 7-step consultation plan which was employed in a standard fashion and then evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  264 employees were evaluated in the Education and Support Center of the German Accident Prevention and Insurance Association in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW schu.ber.z Berlin) from 2003 to 2005 in a standardized manner. Included were detailed history, physical examination, skin physiology measurements (transepidermal water loss, corneometry, sebumetry) and then making a diagnosis and therapeutic recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the study group of 264 employees the most frequent diagnosis were toxic-irritant hand eczema (28.4%), allergic contact eczema (19.7%), atopic eczema (15.5%) and irritant contact eczema with atopic diathesis (13.6%). The frequency of contact sensitivity was high in the study group (80.7%). The skin physiological parameters were not remarkably altered and did not differ between individuals with an atopic diathesis versus without an atopic diathesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This standardized protocol for a "7-step consultation plan"when applied in a standardized manner offers quality-controlled but also individually-adapted support considering dermatological, educational and occupational aspects. Skin physiology parameters did not provide any further information indicating the need of the development of novel techniques to measure skin barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soost
authors.forename: Ilka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graupner
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morch-Röder
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pohrt
authors.forename: Margitta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Worm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*