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Background: Hand eczema (HE) is common in health care workers (HCWs). During the last decade, new recommendations have supported increased use of alcohol‐based hand rub (ABHR) to partially replace hand washings to lower the prevalence of HE. However, newer data on this recommendation is lacking. Objectives: To assess current 1‐year prevalence of HE in HCWs, to investigate exposure, and the extent of subjective discomfort to hand washings and ABHR. Methods: A digital questionnaire was sent to 4876 HCWs from April to May 2020. Results: Of 2125 respondents (1779 women, 346 men), 14.7% reported HE within the last year. In total, 9.1% reported >20 hand washings per shift and 76.0% reported ABHR use >20 times per shift. HE was significantly associated with hand washings (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.73 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26‐2.36]) and glove use on wet skin (adjusted OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.27‐3.12]). Subjective discomfort to ABHR was reported significantly more often than to hand washings (P <.001) and significantly more often in HCWs with HE than in those without HE (P <.001). Conclusions: The current 1‐year HE prevalence in HCWs of 14.7% was lower than in previously reported Scandinavian data. HE was related to frequent hand washings, as previously reported, and to glove use on wet skin, which is a possible risk factor for HE that should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concerns have been raised that a chronic course of hand eczema (HE) could be fostered by a lack of efficient treatment at an early stage. Objectives: First, to assess the prevalence of systemic treatment in patients with chronic occupational HE (OHE) and relate this to demographic data, HE severity, and atopic dermatitis (AD). Second, to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the same population. Methods: Baseline data were obtained from a registry‐based study including patients with recognized OHE in a 2‐year period in Denmark, comprising a total of 2703 workers. A follow‐up questionnaire after 4 to 5 years included questions on disease severity and treatments. Results: A total of 1565 participants responded to the questionnaire, and of these 1203 had ongoing HE at follow‐up and were included in the study. In total, 10.0% had received systemic therapy, whereas this share was 13.3% in those with self‐reported moderate‐to‐severe HE. Age >35 years, previous or current AD, and severe eczema were factors related to use of systemic treatment. Use of CAM was reported by 6.2% of the study population. Conclusions: We suggest that chronicity of HE may be perpetuated by the lack of efficient treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Wet work is an important risk factor for occupational hand eczema. Objectives: To examine the effect of job change in workers with occupational hand eczema caused by wet work, and to evaluate the dose–response relationship between intensity of wet work and eczema. Method: The study is based on a subgroup (n = 954) from a descriptive, registry‐based study including all participants with occupational hand eczema caused by wet work recognized by the Danish Labour Market Insurance Authority in 2010 and 2011. A follow‐up questionnaire was sent out 4–5 years later (response 58%). Results: Change of profession and being outside the labour market had a positive effect on healing and improvement of hand eczema. Inverse dose–response relationships were found between the amount of time spent with wet hands at work and healing (p = 0.001) and improvement (p < 0.001), and between the frequency of hand washing at work and healing (p = 0.013) and improvement (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Leaving the profession has a positive effect on eczema; however, even minor changes in exposure to wet work were associated with healing and improvement. This information has implications with respect to advice given to patients with occupational hand eczema caused by wet work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Skin disorders accounted for one third of all recognised occupational diseases in Denmark in 2010. Wet work is a risk factor for the development of occupational hand eczema. The consequences of occupational hand eczema include sick leave, loss of job and impaired quality of life. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate exposures related to cleaning and the effect of an evidence-based educational intervention on the prevention of hand eczema among hospital cleaners. Patients/Materials/Methods The intervention consisted of a 1 hr course in hand protective behaviour. All full-time cleaners working at Bispebjerg Hospital in January 2013 were invited to participate. The outcome measures were self-reported skin behaviour, exposures, knowledge of skin protection and hand eczema severity index ( HECSI). Results One hundred and five cleaners were invited to participate, of these 86 (82%) were included. At follow-up after 3 months there was a shift towards fewer daily hand washings and hand disinfections ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). The number of correct answers to the knowledge questions rose from 6.3 to 7.3 ( p = 0.006). The mean HECSI score decreased from 2.8 to 1.8 at follow-up ( p = 0.002). Conclusions Data indicates a positive effect of a low-cost on-site educational intervention for hospital cleaners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Skin diseases are the most commonly recognized occupational diseases in Denmark, and occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) comprises ∼95% of all cases. Objectives To prevent occupational contact dermatitis, it is important to specifically identify exposures and work routines related to outbreak of the disease. The aim of this study was to give an overview of exposures for patients with occupational contact dermatitis in Denmark in 2010, and relate this to line of work and disease severity. Material and methods The study was a descriptive, register-based study including patients with recognized occupational contact dermatitis in Denmark in 2010. Data were obtained from the National Board of Industrial Injuries in Denmark, and comprised information about the skin disease as well as the occupation/industry of employment and exposures. Results One thousand five hundred and four patients, 1020 women and 484 men, were included in the study. Irritant contact dermatitis accounted for 70% of all cases; 68% of these were caused by wet work. Forty-six per cent of all patients were employed either in the healthcare sector, in cleaning, or as kitchen workers. Among contact allergies, the most common were to rubber additives from gloves and epoxy in patients employed in the windmill industry. Conclusion The data are important for planning preventive efforts in the future. The workers in the healthcare sector, kitchen workers and cleaners constitute almost half of all cases, and future preventive efforts should be directed at these occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]