title: Self-reported skin symptoms and skin-related quality of life among Latino immigrant poultry processing and other manual workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Manual labor employment occurs in environments with exposures likely to impact skin-related quality of life (SRQOL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this paper are to (1) document the dimensions of SRQOL, (2) examine its association with skin symptoms, and (3) identify the predictors of SRQOL in Latino manual workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based survey of 733 Latino manual workers obtained Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and skin symptoms in the prior year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of workers were employed in production. Skin symptoms in prior year were reported by 23%. Impaired SRQOL was reported by 23%. In multivariate analyses, reduced SRQOL was associated with age, occupation, childhood indigenous language use, and experience of skin symptoms in the prior year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite overall high SRQOL exposures in some immigrant occupational groups produce reduce SRQOL. This rural, immigrant population faces significant obstacles to obtaining dermatological care; efforts are needed to improve their SRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Jill C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pichardo-Geisinger
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060389:Construction Industry; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: immigrant health; manual workers; occupational health; poultry processing workers; survey