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Interdisciplinary and multiprofessional outpatient secondary individual prevention of work-related skin diseases in the metalworking industry: 1-year follow-up of a patient cohort.
- Source :
-
BMC dermatology [BMC Dermatol] 2018 Dec 12; Vol. 18 (1), pp. 12. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Dec 12. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: In Germany, work-related skin diseases are predominant within the spectrum of reported occupational diseases. Metal workers are among the high-risk professions. Offering effective prevention programs to affected patients is of utmost importance to avoid deterioration of the disease and job loss. We conducted a 1-year follow-up in patients who participated in a multidisciplinary, complex outpatient prevention program representing a standard procedure of patient care by the respective statutory accident insurance.<br />Methods: The multi-component prevention program consists of multiprofessional individual patient counseling, a structured skin protection seminar in a group, as well as workplace visits and on-site counseling in terms of appropriate skin protection (e.g. gloves). An observational study with a 1-year follow-up and four measurements (T1-T4, longitudinal pre/post-test design) including dermatological examinations and standardized written questionnaires was conducted between 2013 and 2016 to assess changes over time regarding job loss and disease severity.<br />Results: Data from 94 patients (87 male, mean age: 45.4 years) were included in the analysis. One year after the skin protection seminar (T4), 83 patients (88.3%) remained in their original professional metalworking activity and four patients (4.3%) had given up their profession because of their skin disease. At baseline (T1), irritant contact dermatitis of the hands was the most frequent diagnosis (80.7%). Methods for self-reported disease severity showed good correlation with the clinical gold standard at T1 and T2 (dermatological examination with the Osnabrück Hand Eczema Severity Index / OHSI), and a significant decrease of the self-reported disease severity was found over time from T1 to T4 (p < 0.001). Further results indicate an improved self-perceived disease control and an overall satisfaction with the prevention program.<br />Conclusions: The results of this observational study demonstrate that the comprehensive prevention program positively influences the course of work-related skin diseases, increases the possibility to continue working in a "high-risk" profession and improves the disease management of metal workers. In the long term, the prevention program may lead to cost savings by preventing high therapy costs or professional retraining.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Ambulatory Care methods
Ambulatory Care organization & administration
Critical Pathways
Female
Germany
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Care Team organization & administration
Program Evaluation
Protective Clothing
Secondary Prevention organization & administration
Severity of Illness Index
Skin Cream
Skin Tests
Dermatitis, Contact prevention & control
Dermatitis, Occupational prevention & control
Gloves, Protective
Hand Dermatoses prevention & control
Metallurgy
Patient Education as Topic
Secondary Prevention methods
Skin Care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-5945
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC dermatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30541516
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12895-018-0080-2