title: The effect of work characteristics on dermatologic symptoms in hairdressers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hairdressers in Korea perform various tasks and are exposed to health risk factors such as chemical substances or prolonged duration of wet work. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive statistics on the demographics and work characteristics of hairdressers in Korea and to identify work-related risk factors for dermatologic symptoms in hairdressers.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,054 hairdressers were selected and analyzed for this study. Independent variables were exposure to chemical substances, the training status of the hairdressers, and the main tasks required of them, and the dependent variable was the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. The relationships between work characteristics and dermatologic symptoms were evaluated by estimating odds ratios using multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 1,054 study subjects, 212 hairdressers (20.1%) complained of dermatologic symptoms, and the symptoms were more prevalent in younger, unmarried or highly educated hairdressers. The main tasks that comprise the majority of the wet work were strictly determined by training status, since 96.5% of staff hairdressers identified washing as their main task, while only 1.5% and 2.0% of master and designer hairdressers, respectively, identified this as their main task. Multiple logistic regressions was performed to estimate odds ratios. While exposure to hairdressing chemicals showed no significant effect on the odds ratio for the incidence of dermatologic symptoms, higher odds ratios of dermatologic symptoms were shown in staff hairdressers (2.70, 95% CI: 1.32 - 5.51) and in hairdressers who perform washing as their main task (2.03, 95% CI: 1.22 - 3.37), after adjusting for general and work characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are closely related to each other and that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are related to the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. This suggests that in the future, regulations on working conditions and health management guidelines for hairdressers should be established.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea ; The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Pil Kyun
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea ; The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: June-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), Service Industry Safety Team, Chungbuk Area Office, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Uk
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Inah
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
keywords: Dermatitis, occupational; Eczema; Hair preparations; Occupational health