Skin disease symptoms and related risk factors among young workers in high-risk jobs.
BACKGROUND
Occupational skin diseases are the one of the most frequent diseases in many industrialized countries. The studies about skin disease (SD) on young workers were limited.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of SD symptoms and related risk factors among young workers in high-risk occupations.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was undertaken between 2011 and 2012 in two vocational training centres. We included 455 young workers who were working as hairdressers, jewellers, or car mechanics. Data were collected with the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire, which was adapted to Turkish for young workers.


RESULTS
The average age of the young workers was 17.9 ± 1.7 years. Of the 455 young workers, 52.7% were female and 47.3% were male. During the previous 12 months, the prevalences of the total SD symptoms, hand/forearm eczema symptoms and urticaria symptoms were 49.7%, 44.4%, and 13.4%, respectively. Those who worked as car mechanics were 5.8 times more likely [odds ratio (OR) 5.81, 95%CI: 2.58-13.10) to have a dry skin type, 2.9 times more likely (OR 2.86, 95%CI: 1.72-4.75) to work for >12 h daily, 2.6 times more likely (OR 2.59, 95%CI: 1.25-5.35) to have worked for >5 years, and 3.0 times more likely (OR 3.05, 95%CI: 1.14-8.14) to have SD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that young workers in high-risk jobs have a high frequency of skin symptoms. These results could provide a basis for occupational health professionals to plan prevention programmes for young workers.
Istanbul University Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Nursing Department, 34381 Şişli/Istanbul, Turkey.
Emine
E
Aktas
Istanbul University Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Nursing Department, 34381 Şişli/Istanbul, Turkey.
M Nihal
MN
Esin
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014829:Vocational Education; D055815:Young Adult
NOSQ-2002; Turkey; eczema; hazardous jobs; occupational skin disease; young workers