Quality of Life of Healthcare Workers Suffering from Occupational Contact Dermatitis

Title:Quality of Life of Healthcare Workers Suffering from Occupational Contact Dermatitis

Volume: 15 Issue: 1

Author(s): Amira Omrane*, Asma Khedher , Chayma Harrathi, Maher Maoua , Taoufik Khalfallah , Lamia Bouzgarrou, Nejib Mrizak , Mohamed Adnene Henchi and Hichem Bel Hadj Ali

Affiliation:

• Department of Occupational Medicine, Teaching Hospital Taher Sfar, Mahdia, Tunisia

Keywords: DLQI, healthcare workers, hospital, quality of life, occupational dermatitis, Odds Ratio (OR).

Abstract: Background: Healthcare workers are at a high risk of developing Occupational Dermatitis (OD). Affected workers often experience severe impairment of their Quality of Life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the skin-related QoL of healthcare workers with OD and to explore its related factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional and exhaustive study was conducted among healthcare personnel of four public hospitals in the central region of Tunisia. All the cases of OD declared were included. Skin-related QoL was assessed using the validated Tunisian version of the “Dermatology Life Quality Index” (DLQI). Some related patents have also been discussed.

Results: A total of 37 cases of OD were collected with an annual incidence of 4.2 cases per 10000 workers. The population was predominantly female (73%) and the mean age was 44.7±9.4 years. Nurses were the most represented occupational category (38%). Allergic contact dermatitis was the most frequent diagnosis (96%). The use of gloves was the most frequently reported occupational hazard (86%). The most frequently affected sites were hands (97%).

The median score of DLQI was five. Multivariate analysis showed an association between the impairment of skin-related QoL and female gender (p = 0.04; OR = 19.3,84), exposure to disinfecting chemicals in the workplace (p = 0.01; OR = 17,306) and the absence of occupational reclassification (p = 0.01; OR = 21,567).

Conclusion: About one-third of the population had an impaired quality of life. The score impairment was significantly related to the female gender, exposure to disinfecting chemicals and the absence of occupational reclassification.

Cite this article as:

Omrane Amira *, Khedher Asma , Harrathi Chayma , Maoua Maher , Khalfallah Taoufik , Bouzgarrou Lamia, Mrizak Nejib , Henchi Adnene Mohamed and Ali Bel Hadj Hichem , Quality of Life of Healthcare Workers Suffering from Occupational Contact Dermatitis, Recent Advances in Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery 2021; 15 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1872213X14666210303155135