FS10.7 A surveillance network for occupational contact dermatitis utilizing general practitioners

Abstract

Objectives: The Surveillance by General Practitioners of Occupational Contact Dermatitis Project (Spot) has been designed to provide disease estimates for occupational contact dermatitis within a defined geographic area in Melbourne, Australia.Method: Spot collected reports of occupational contact dermatitis from four separate sources: general practitioners, dermatologists, a Dermatology Outpatient clinic, and an Occupational Dermatology Clinic. Case definition was stratified into two levels, suspected and confirmed. All cases of suspected occupational contact dermatitis reported to Spot were assessed and required to undergo diagnostic confirmation, including appropriate patch testing by an occupational dermatologist. The rates generated by Spot were compared to the rates generated by Victorian workers’ compensation data (Victorian Work Cover Authority) for “Contact dermatitis and other and unspecified dermatitis.”Results: To date, a total of 125 suspected cases have been reported to Spot. 56 cases of occupational contact dermatitis have been confirmed with an incidence rate of 12.5 per 100,000 full‐time workers and a prevalence rate of 28 per 100,000. This can be compared to the rate from Victorian WorkCover Authority of 4 per 100,000 (with information not available for incidence or prevalence).Conclusions: Although limited by resources, clinician and worker participation rates, Spot provides a better estimate for occupational contact dermatitis in an Australian urban setting than that currently available through workers’ compensation statistics. The information generated by Spot will provide an important contribution towards the characterisation of occupational contact dermatitis in Australia.