Occupational hand dermatitis web survey in a university hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: the SHIELD study The SHIELD study

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Angela Rizzi
UOSD Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip. Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy

Riccardo Inchingolo
UOC Pneumologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS

Marinella Viola
UOSD Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip. Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy

Luca Boldrini
UOC Radioterapia Oncologica, Dip. Diagnostica per immagini, radioterapia oncologica ed ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Roma, Italy

Jacopo Lenkowicz
UOC Radioterapia Oncologica, Dip. Diagnostica per immagini, radioterapia oncologica ed ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Roma, Italy

Franziska Michaela Lohmeyer
Direzione Scientifica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy

Francesco Maria De Simone
UOSD Sorveglianza Sanitaria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy

Domenico Staiti
Servizio di Sorveglianza Sanitaria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Roma, Italy

Caterina Sarnari
UOSD Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip. Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy

Antonio Gasbarrini
UOC Gastroenterologia, Dip. Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS. Medicina e chirurgia traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Roma, Italy

Eleonora Nucera
UOSD Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip. Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS. Medicina e chirurgia traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Roma, Italy

Keywords

COVID-19; occupational hand dermatitis; healthcare workers; personal protective equipment; protective gloves; hand washing.

Abstract

Background: Occupational hand dermatitis (OHD) is a skin disease occurring on employees’ hands in certain jobs. Little is known about prevalence, incidence and characteristics of this adverse skin reaction and its associated risk factors during COVID-19 pandemic. To evaluate both prevalence and incidence of OHD and associated risk factors in Italian clinicians. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-report questionnaire. Results: Two hundred and thirty clinicians responded to the survey and 82% of responders did not report previous OHD history before the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily use of gloves was reported by 80% of responders. OHD prevalence was 18%, while incidence was 80%. We found a protective effect on symptom occurrence for vinyl/nitrile gloves if the time with gloves was ≥ 6 hours per day. Conclusions: This survey reveals a high OHD incidence in an Italian population of clinicians. Furthermore, wearing vinyl/nitrile gloves for at least 6 hours a day had a protective effect on symptom onset.

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Published
Aug 26, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v112i4.11670

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1.
Rizzi A, Inchingolo R, Viola M, Boldrini L, Lenkowicz J, Lohmeyer FM, et al. Occupational hand dermatitis web survey in a university hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: the SHIELD study : The SHIELD study. Med Lav [Internet]. 2021 Aug. 26 [cited 2025 Jan. 22];112(4):320-6. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/article/view/11670
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Vol. 112 No. 4 (2021)
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Short communications

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How to Cite

1.
Rizzi A, Inchingolo R, Viola M, Boldrini L, Lenkowicz J, Lohmeyer FM, et al. Occupational hand dermatitis web survey in a university hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: the SHIELD study : The SHIELD study. Med Lav [Internet]. 2021 Aug. 26 [cited 2025 Jan. 22];112(4):320-6. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/article/view/11670
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