Wet work and hand eczema in apprentice nurses; part I of a prospective cohort study

Environmental exposure and personal susceptibility both contribute to the development of hand eczema. Here, we report an investigation on wet work exposure and its influence on the risk of developing hand eczema in apprentice nurses.

A prospective cohort study was performed among 721 Dutch apprentice nurses. Participants recorded wet work exposure and symptoms of hand eczema using specially designed diary cards.

For 533 apprentice nurses, a follow-up time of 1-3 years was completed. Diary cards were supplied by 383 students. The 1-year period prevalence of hand eczema was 23% in the first year, 25% in the second year and 31% in the third year of follow-up. Eighty-one new cases of hand eczema developed, most of which occurred during the first year of follow-up. In approximately one-third of the participants, wet work exposure exceeded the national guidelines. Frequent hand washing during traineeships [odds ratio (OR) 1.5; 90% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-2.3], frequent hand washing at home (OR 2.3; 90% CI 1.5-3.7) and having a side job involving wet work (OR 1.6; 90% CI 1.0-2.4) were independent risk factors for hand eczema.

As a considerable number of apprentice nurses had already developed hand eczema during traineeships, more attention should be paid to skin protection in vocational education.