Abstract for Poster 9

 

 

Hand dermatitis in Iranian Health care workers

M. Ghaffari*¹, S. Shafiiyan², K. Kadkhodazedeh^3
1Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
²Iran university of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
³Kian Clinic, Tehran, Iran

Background

Hand Dermatitis (HD) represents one of the most important occupational health problems among health care workers especially medical and nursing staff worldwide. HD is usually the result of allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis or both. Although HD represents a widespread community problem, health care workers usually suffer excessive rates of this disease, particularly when compared to the general population. Few, if any epidemiological studies of this disease have been conducted in Iran. Therefore, we administered self-report questionnaire to 152 medical and nursing staff from a hospital in Tehran province. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of skin problems in a medical and nursing staff in Iran.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 152 health care workers. We used Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire for data collection. A total of 139 replies were received (95.4 %).

Results

Health care workers reported a high prevalence rate of hand dermatitis compare to general population. Lifetime prevalence for hand dermatitis among health care workers in our study was 27.5 %. Health care workers with history of atopic status reported hand dermatitis more than other workers.

Conclusion

Our study suggest that hand dermatitis is common problem among health care workers in Iran. Our prevalence rate is near to other published data from western countries. But still this prevalence rate is five times more than general population with 3.8 %.

 

Content last modified: 15 May 2005