Aims and objectives: Hand dermatitis is regarded as one of the most often observed dermatological disorders among nurses. This study was carried out to investigate the incidence of self-reported hand dermatitis and related factors among paediatric nurses.
Background: The most common occupational skin disease in the nursing profession is hand dermatitis. Various risk factors are known to exist including the type of soap used at work, the number of hand washes per shift and the nursing job category, among others.
Design: This study was conducted among a group of 158 nurses based in three paediatric hospital departments in Bursa.
Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared by the investigators. Each nursing unit was visited twice by a single investigator. All nurses working at the time of each visit were questioned and examined.
Results: Of the nurses, 47.5% had hand dermatitis. The damage was not correlated with age or the type of soap used at work, but was significantly correlated with the hospital, unit, number of hand washes (p < 0.05), history of allergy (p < 0.01) and type of hand protection (p < 0.001). Hand dermatitis was more common in the ICU and infectious disease units. Most of the nurses did not apply hand cream at the hospital.
Conclusions: Damage to hands is a common and potentially serious problem among nurses and is associated with unit, glove usage and hand-washing practices instead of with demographic factors. A high frequency of hand dermatitis was observed among paediatric nurses.
Relevance to clinical practice: The proper preventive programmes should be implemented for those nursing staff working in high-risk units.