An update on the prevalence and risk exposures associated with hand eczema in Danish hospital employees: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema (HE) is common in health care workers (HCWs). During the last decade, new recommendations have supported increased use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) to partially replace hand washings to lower the prevalence of HE. However, newer data on this recommendation is lacking.

OBJECTIVES: To assess current 1-year prevalence of HE in HCWs, to investigate exposure, and the extent of subjective discomfort to hand washings and ABHR.

METHODS: A digital questionnaire was sent to 4876 HCWs from April to May 2020.

RESULTS: Of 2125 respondents (1779 women, 346 men), 14.7% reported HE within the last year. In total, 9.1% reported >20 hand washings per shift and 76.0% reported ABHR use >20 times per shift. HE was significantly associated with hand washings (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.73 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-2.36]) and glove use on wet skin (adjusted OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.27-3.12]). Subjective discomfort to ABHR was reported significantly more often than to hand washings (P < .001) and significantly more often in HCWs with HE than in those without HE (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: The current 1-year HE prevalence in HCWs of 14.7% was lower than in previously reported Scandinavian data. HE was related to frequent hand washings, as previously reported, and to glove use on wet skin, which is a possible risk factor for HE that should be further explored.