Prevention of Hand Eczema among Nurse Apprentice (PREVEDERM): An Interventional Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Occupational Health
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, face a high risk of occupational hand eczema due to frequent exposure to irritants and allergens.
• Nurses are disproportionately affected by hand dermatitis compared to other healthcare professionals.
• Occupational hand eczema poses a significant health concern within the healthcare sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a brief educational intervention in preventing occupational hand eczema among nurse apprentices.
• To utilize objective measures such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and epidermal hydration (EH), alongside the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score, for evaluation.

Main Methods:

• 230 nurse students were divided into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG).
• The IG received education on risks and skin care, plus cosmeceuticals for use during clinical activities.
• Skin properties were evaluated using questionnaires, HECSI scores, TEWL, and EH measurements.

Main Results:

• After 3 months, hand eczema prevalence was 11.34% in the IG versus 59.52% in the CG.
• The IG showed a 17% improvement in skin condition (CM) and a 16% reduction in TEWL.
• The CG experienced only a 0.5% improvement in CM and a 33% impairment in TEWL.

Conclusions:

• Occupational hand eczema is prevalent among healthcare staff, including trainees.
• Early-stage preventive training programs demonstrate effectiveness in mitigating occupational contact dermatitis.
• Educational interventions are crucial for reducing the incidence and severity of hand eczema in nursing apprentices.