Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-03-2005 | Original Article

Secondary individual prevention of hand dermatitis in geriatric nurses

Authors: Nanna Y. Schürer, Ulrike Klippel, Hans J. Schwanitz

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 2/2005

Abstract

Background: The incidence of occupational skin disease (OSD) in geriatric nurses (GNs) is increasing in Germany. Objectives: A prospective controlled study of secondary individual prevention (SIP) of OSD in GNs was conducted. Methods: Two hundred and nine participants completed questionnaires prior to the start of the program and 3 months after its conclusion. One hundred and two GNs participated in an interventional program (intervention group, IG). Severity of OSD was classified upon each visit. Δ-TEWL values were measured at regular intervals. Findings were compared with those for 107 control group (CG) participants consulting a dermatologist on demand. SIP was not offered to CG participants. Results: Upon entry, 89% of IG and 90% CG complained of OSD (NS). Dermatologic examination revealed skin changes in 90% of IG at first consultation. Upon study completion, 59% of IG was free of OSD. Questionnaires 3 months after study completion revealed skin lesions in 53% of IG and 82% of CG (p<0.01). Δ-TEWL measurements reflected significant improvement of the epidermal barrier during SIP in IG (median 6.9–3.0 g/m²/h, p<0.001). Three months after study completion, 96% of IG and 86% of CG were still employed. Conclusions: Objective dermatologic and skin physiologic data reveal that SIP in GNs is effective in the secondary prevention of OSD. Further, IG was superior to CG in terms of health maintenance and employment.

Anonymous (2000) Die Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege. Jahresbericht

Bauer A, Bartsch R, Stadeler M, Schneider W, Grieshaber R, Wollina U, Gebhardt M (1998) Development of occupational skin diseases during vocational training in baker and confectioner apprentices: a follow-up study. Contact Dermatitis 39:307–311

Bauer A, Bartsch R, Hersmann C, Stadeler M, Kelterer D, Schneider W, Seidel A, Schiel R, Elsner P (2001) Occupational hand dermatitis in food industry apprentices: results of a 3-year follow-up cohort study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 74:437–442

Chamlin SL, Kao J, Frieden IJ, Sheu MY, Fowler AJ, Fluhr JW, Williams ML, Elias PM (2002) Ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids alleviate childhood atopic dermatitis: changes in barrier function provide a sensitive indicator of disease activity. J Am Acad Dermatol 47:198–208

Chilcott RP, Dalton CH, Emmanuel AJ, Allen CE, Bradley ST (2002) Transepidermal water loss does not correlate with skin barrier function in vitro. J Invest Dermatol 118:871–875CrossRefPubMed

Chuong CM, Nickoloff BJ, Elias PM, Goldsmith LA, Macher E, Maderson PA, Sundberg JP, Tagami H, Plonka PM, Thestrup-Pederson K, Bernard BA, Schroder JM, Dotto P, Chang CM, Williams ML, Feingold KR, King LE, Kligman AM, Rees JL, Christophers E (2002) What is the “true” function of skin? Exp Dermatol 11:159–187

Di Nardo A, Wertz P, Giannetti A, Seidenari S (1998) Ceramide and cholesterol composition of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 78:27–30

Dickel H, Kuss O, Blesius CR, Schmidt A, Diepgen TL (2001) Occupational skin diseases in Northern Bavaria between 1990 and 1999: a population-based study. Br J Dermatol 145:453–462

Diepgen TL (2003) Occupational skin-disease data in Europe. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 76:331–338CrossRef

Diepgen TL, Coenraads PJ (2000) Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of patch testing: the more you test, the more you get? ESCD Working Party on Epidemiology. Contact Dermatitis 42:315–317

Fartasch M (1995) Human barrier formation and reaction to irritation. Curr Probl Dermatol 23:95–103PubMed

Fartasch M, Bassukas ID, Diepgen TL (1993) Structural relationship between epidermal lipid lamellae, lamellar bodies and desmosomes in human epidermis: an ultrastructural study. Br J Dermatol 128:1–9

Fluhr JW, Dickel H, Kuss O, Weyher I, Diepgen TL, Berardesca E (2002) Impact of anatomical location on barrier recovery, surface pH and stratum corneum hydration after acute barrier disruption. Br J Dermatol 146:770–776CrossRefPubMed

Forrester BG, Roth VS (1998) Hand dermatitis in intensive care units. J Occup Environ Med 40:881–885

Funke U, Fartasch M, Diepgen TL (2001) Incidence of work-related hand eczema during apprenticeship: first results of a prospective cohort study in the car industry. Contact Dermatitis 44:166–172CrossRefPubMed

Hachem JP, De Paepe K, Sterckx G, Kaufman L, Rogiers V, Roseeuw D (2002) Evaluation of biophysical and clinical parameters of skin barrier function among hospital workers. Contact Dermatitis 46:220–223

Hanifin JM, Rajka G (1980) Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 33:112–117

Held E, Wolff C, Gyntelberg F, Agner T (2001) Prevention of work-related skin problems in student auxiliary nurses: an intervention study. Contact Dermatitis 44:297–303

Held E, Mygind K, Wolff C, Gyntelberg F, Agner T (2002) Prevention of work related skin problems: an intervention study in wet work employees. Occup Environ Med 59:556–561

John SM, Schwanitz HJ (2003) Evidence for the phenomenon of aquired cutanous hyperirritability after previous eczema. Skin Res Technol 9:179

Lee JY, Effendy I, Maibach HI (1997) Acute irritant contact dermatitis: recovery time in man. Contact Dermatitis 36:285–290

Meding B, Swanbeck G (1989) Epidemiology of different types of hand eczema in an industrial city. Acta Derm Venereol 69:227–233

Meding B, Jarvholm B (2002) Hand eczema in Swedish adults—changes in prevalence between 1983 and 1996. J Invest Dermatol 118:719–723CrossRef

Nilsson E, Mikaelsson B, Andersson S (1985) Atopy, occupation and domestic work as risk factors for hand eczema in hospital workers. Contact Dermatitis 13:216–223

Norlen L, Engblom J, Andersson M, Forslind B (1999) A new computer-based evaporimeter system for rapid and precise measurements of water diffusion through stratum corneum in vitro. J Invest Dermatol 113:533–540

Pelchrzim vR, Soost S, Worm M (2004) Clinical findings in the skin of health care workers and the influence of prevention strategies. Dermatosen 52:26–32

Pinnagoda J, Tupker RA, Agner T, Serup J (1990) Guidelines for transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement. A report from the Standardization Group of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 22:164–178PubMed

Proksch E, Brasch J (1997) Influence of epidermal permeability barrier disruption and Langerhans’ cell density on allergic contact dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 77:102–104

Schwanitz HJ, Riehl U, Schlesinger T, Bock M, Skudlik C, Wulfhorst B (2003) Skin care management: educational aspects. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 76:374–381

Stingeni L, Lapomarda V, Lisi P (1995) Occupational hand dermatitis in hospital environments. Contact Dermatitis 33:172–176

Susitaival P, Flyvholm MA, Meding B, Kanerva L, Lindberg M, Svensson A, Olafsson JH (2003) Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002): a new tool for surveying occupational skin diseases and exposure. Contact Dermatitis 49:70–76

Svensson A, Lindberg M, Meding B, Sundberg K, Stenberg B (2002) Self-reported hand eczema: symptom-based reports do not increase the validity of diagnosis. Br J Dermatol 147:281–284

Tacke J, Schmidt A, Fartasch M, Diepgen TL (1995) Occupational contact dermatitis in bakers, confectioners and cooks: a population-based study. Contact Dermatitis 33:112–117

Uter W, Pfahlberg A, Gefeller O, Schwanitz HJ (1998) Hand eczema in a prospectively followed cohort of office workers. Contact Dermatitis 38:83–89

Uter W, Pfahlberg A, Gefeller O, Schwanitz HJ (1999) Hand dermatitis in a prospectively followed cohort of hairdressing apprentices: final results of the POSH study. Prevention of occupational skin disease in hairdressers. Contact Dermatitis 41:280–286

Uter W, Schnuch A, Geier J, Pfahlberg A, Gefeller O (2001) Association between occupation and contact allergy to the fragrance mix: a multifactorial analysis of national surveillance data. Occup Environ Med 58:392–398CrossRefPubMed

Wulfhorst B (2003) Langzeiteffektivität von Schulungsprogrammen für Patienten mit berufsbedingten Hauterkrankungen. JDDG 1:S154

Title: Secondary individual prevention of hand dermatitis in geriatric nurses
Authors: Nanna Y. Schürer
Ulrike Klippel
Hans J. Schwanitz
Publication date: 01-03-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 2/2005
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0588-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Secondary individual prevention of hand dermatitis in geriatric nurses

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2005

Neuro-reproductive toxicities of 1-bromopropane and 2-bromopropane

Effects of working permanent night shifts and two shifts on cognitive and psychomotor performance

Host factors in occupational diisocyanate asthma: a Swiss longitudinal study

The effect of a cognitive and a physical stress-reducing programme on psychological complaints

Exposure to air pollution and pulmonary function in university students

Airways symptoms, immunological response and exposure in powder painting