Related Experiment Videos
Skin protection in bakers' apprentices.
Andrea Bauer1, Daniela Kelterer, Reinhard Bartsch
1Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany. abau@derma.uni-jena.de
Contact Dermatitis
|March 29, 2002
Summary
Occupational hand dermatitis prevention is improved by training bakers' apprentices on skin protection. High uptake of barrier creams and improved skin care were observed, demonstrating successful intervention in high-risk professions.
Area of Science:
- Occupational dermatology
- Public health interventions
- Workplace safety
Background:
- Occupational hand dermatitis (HD) is a prevalent concern in skin-risk professions.
- Skin protection measures (barrier creams, gloves) and skin care are recommended but their uptake is poorly understood.
- Bakers are at high risk for HD due to frequent wet work and irritant exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the uptake and maintenance of skin protection and skin care measures among first-year bakers' apprentices.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a controlled intervention program on adherence to these measures.
Main Methods:
- A controlled intervention study involving 94 first-year bakers' apprentices.
- Apprentices were assigned to either a skin protection intervention group (n=39) or a control group (n=55).
- Intervention included training at the start and after 4 weeks; data collected via interviews at baseline and 4-monthly follow-ups.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in uptake of barrier creams (p < 0.0001), protective gloves (p = 0.046), and skin care (p = 0.025) between groups.
- Barrier cream use reached 100% in the intervention group by the 4th follow-up, compared to 3.2% in controls.
- Protective glove acceptance was lower (43.3% vs 32.3%), while skin care acceptance increased significantly in the intervention group (88.9% vs 68.1% at 4th FU).
Conclusions:
- Skin protection and skin care measures can be successfully implemented in daily routines within high-risk occupations.
- High uptake and maintenance rates of these preventative measures are achievable through targeted training.
- This study provides evidence for effective strategies to combat occupational hand dermatitis in apprentices.