Abstract
Although hand dermatitis represents a common occupational disease among hospital nurses, epidemiologic studies of this nature are comparatively rare in Japan. We recruited a complete cross-section of nurses from a teaching hospital in central Japan. Data was gathered by means of a self-reported questionnaire, with hand dermatitis symptoms and evaluation criteria drawn from previously validated research. Participants were categorised according to their hospital department during the analysis. A total of 305 questionnaires were successfully completed and returned (response rate: 84%). There were statistically significant differences in hand dermatitis prevalence between the departments (p < 0.05), ranging from 6% in psychiatry to 48% in the surgical unit and averaging 35% across the entire group. A history of allergic disease was shown to increase the risk of hand dermatitis (odds ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.1 - 6.6). Washing their hands more than 15 times per work shift also increased the risk (odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.2 - 3.4). This study has shown that hand dermatitis prevalence varies among Japanese nurses depending on their hospital department, and is generally quite high when compared to other reports.
Highlights
Hand dermatitis represents a common occupational disease among hospital nurses, epidemiologic studies of this nature are comparatively rare in Japan
A history of allergic disease was shown to increase the risk of hand dermatitis
This study has shown that hand dermatitis prevalence varies among Japanese nurses depending on their hospital department, and is generally quite high when compared to other reports
Summary
Data was gathered by means of a self-reported questionnaire, with hand dermatitis symptoms and evaluation criteria drawn from previously validated research. This study involved a retrospective epidemiologic analysis of data gathered by means of a self-reported HD questionnaire. Our questionnaire was initially written in English, before being translated into Japanese and evaluated by a panel of bi-lingual researchers. It was assessed for clarity within a Japanese occupational setting, before being back-translated into English and checked by the initial author. The instrument was a simple, two-page anonymous form including questions of age, department, weekly working hours, duration of employment, exposure to latex products, and the presence of systemic allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hay-fever. They included red and swollen hands or fingers, red hands and fingers or fissures, vesicles on the hands or between the fingers, scaling hands or fingers with fissures, and itching hands or fingers with fissures.10,11A detailed description of HD symptoms is shown in the appendix
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