The prevalence and risk factors of hand eczema among emergency healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Meltem Songur Kodik; Zeynep Dila Çetin; İdil Unal; Yusuf Ali Altuncı

doi:10.19161/etd.951013

EN TR

The prevalence and risk factors of hand eczema among emergency healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim: The preventive measures to decelerate the spread of the novel coronavirus include intense hand sanitizing which is a risk factor for hand eczema. Occupational hand eczema is common among healthcare workers due to their exposure to wet work and chemical irritants. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hand eczema among healthcare workers currently working in the emergency department and investigate the alterations regarding the risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020 in Turkey. Materials and Methods: An online survey was sent to healthcare workers in emergency departments all over Turkey. Participants were asked to evaluate their frequency of hand washing, hand eczema, glove use and moisturizer use as prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hand eczema and associated symptoms were self-reported. Results: Three hundred fifty-four healthcare workers, consisting of 260 emergency physicians and 94 nurses returned the survey. The prevalence of HE among 354 participants with a median age of 32 was 48.6% (n=161). HE was associated with having an atopic history (p<0.001). 54.8% (n=194) of the participants reported having symptoms associated with HE prior to the pandemic and the rate increased significantly to 64.7% (n=229) during the pandemic (p<0.001). The exposure to the risk factors of hand eczema such as hand washing frequency and duration of glove use showed a relevant increase during the pandemic (p<0.001). As well as moisturizer applying frequency which also increased during the pandemic (p<0.001). Conclusion: With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Healthcare workers intensified their hand hygiene practices as recommended and increased their risk for hand eczema.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemisi süresince acil sağlık çalışanları arasındaki el egzaması prevalansı ve risk faktörleri

Öz

Amaç: Yeni koronavirüsün yayılma hızını yavaşlatmak amacıyla alınan önlemler arasında egzama risk faktörü olan yoğunlaştırılmış el dezenfeksiyonu bulunmakta. Sağlık çalışanlarının ıslak çalışma ve irritant kimyasallara maruziyetleri nedeniyle mesleki el egzaması oldukça yaygın. Bu çalışmamızda, acil servislerde çalışan sağlık çalışanları arasında var olan el egzaması prevalansını ortaya koyup, Türkiye’de Mart 2020’de başlayan COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde risk faktörlerinde meydana gelen değişiklikleri irdelemeyi hedefledik. Gereç ve Yöntem: Anketimizi Türkiye’deki acil servislerde çalışan sağlık çalışanlarına e-posta yoluyla ulaştırıldı. Katılımcılardan el yıkama sıklıklarını, eldiven kullanım sürelerini, el nemlendiricisi kullanım sıklıklarını pandemi öncesi ve süresince olarak değerlendirmeleri istendi. El egzamasının ve ilişkili semptomların varlığı kişisel beyana dayandırıldı. Bulgular: Anketimizi cevaplayan 354 sağlık çalışanından 260’ı hekim, 94’ü hemşireydi. Ortalama yaşın 32 olduğu örneklemimizde 48,6% (n=161) el egzaması görüldü ve atopik bir hikâyeye sahip olmak ile ilişkilendirildi (p<0,001). El egzamasıyla ilişkili semptomların görülme oranı pandemi öncesinde 54,8% (n=194) iken pandemi sürecinde 64,7% (n=229) olarak anlamlı bir artış gösterdi (p<0,001). Egzama risk faktörlerine maruziyeti el yıkama sıklığı ve eldiven kullanım süresini irdeleyerek ikisinde de anlamlı bir artış gözlemledik (p<0,001). Aynı zamanda sağlık çalışanları pandemi süresince ellerini daha sık nemlendirme ihtiyacı duyduklarını belirtti (p<0,001). Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisinin ortaya çıkmasıyla sağlık çalışanlarının uyması gereken el hijyen protokolleri yoğunlaştırıldı, bunun sonucunda sağlık çalışanlarında el egzaması oluşma riski arttı.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Meltem Songur Kodik
0000-0003-4565-3374
Türkiye

Zeynep Dila Çetin
0000-0002-3767-9868
Türkiye

İdil Unal
0000-0002-1639-277X
Türkiye

Yusuf Ali Altuncı
0000-0002-4803-5419
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2021

Submission Date

April 28, 2021

Acceptance Date

May 20, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 60 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.19161/etd.951013

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA25MC24JZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

Vancouver

1.Meltem Songur Kodik, Zeynep Dila Çetin, İdil Unal, Yusuf Ali Altuncı. The prevalence and risk factors of hand eczema among emergency healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. EJM. 2021 Jun. 1;60(2):155-62. doi:10.19161/etd.951013

Cited By

Correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels with severity of work-related hand eczema among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study

Dermatology Reports

https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2023.9861