Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorJeebhay, Mohamed
dc.contributor.advisorBaatjies Roslynn
dc.contributor.authorSonday, Zahida
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-02T10:14:28Z
dc.date.available2024-07-02T10:14:28Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.updated2024-06-04T13:53:10Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: Cleaning products and related agents are increasingly associated with occupational irritant and allergic contact dermatitis in health workers (HWs), but limited information is available on predictors for these outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors for work-related skin symptoms (WRSS) and skin disease phenotypes in HWs exposed to diverse cleaning agents in two Southern African tertiary hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 697 HWs used an interviewer administered questionnaire and assessed the presence of atopy using Phadiatop. Results: The median age of HWs was 42 years (IQR: 32 – 51), 77.0% were female and 42.5% were atopic. The lifetime prevalence of WRSS was 18.7% and WRSS in the last 12 months was slightly lower (14.8%). Among the skin disease phenotypes, 12.3% had probable contact dermatitis and 3.2% probable contact urticaria. In multivariate regression models, adjusted for family history of allergy and domestic cleaning frequency, technicians (ORadj 4.45, 95% CI: 1.21-21.48) and work activities involving cleaning and disinfection of skin wounds (ORadj 2.70, 95% CI: 1.64-4.57) was associated with WRSS in the past year. A consistent trend was observed for job tasks and cleaning agents related to these work activities. Risk factors for probable contact dermatitis included the use of liquid hand soap (ORadj 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03- 2.72), sterilising instruments manually (ORadj 1.94, 95% CI: 1.15-3.19) or automatically (ORadj 3.28, 95% CI: 1.01-9.32), disinfecting skin prior to procedures (ORadj 2.29, 95% CI: 1.45-3.66) and the use of adhesives for wounds (ORadj 1.91, 95% CI: 1.20-3.07). Risk factors for probable contact urticaria included specimen preparation (ORadj 2.65, 95% CI: 1.06-6.38) and wound cleaning and disinfection (ORadj 3.10, 95% CI: 1.24-8.81). Training on protection against adverse health effects of cleaning agents (ORadj 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31-0.89) was protective against WRSS in the past year. Conclusion: Workplace activities and related factors associated with cleaning and disinfecting of patients' skin and wounds are important risk factors for WRSS in HWs. Training on the adverse health effects of cleaning agents can contribute to decreasing risks in HWs. Keywords: health workers, skin symptoms, cleaning agents
dc.identifier.apacitationSonday, Z. (2023). <i>Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSonday, Zahida. <i>"Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSonday, Z. 2023. Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Sonday, Zahida AB - Background: Cleaning products and related agents are increasingly associated with occupational irritant and allergic contact dermatitis in health workers (HWs), but limited information is available on predictors for these outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors for work-related skin symptoms (WRSS) and skin disease phenotypes in HWs exposed to diverse cleaning agents in two Southern African tertiary hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 697 HWs used an interviewer administered questionnaire and assessed the presence of atopy using Phadiatop. Results: The median age of HWs was 42 years (IQR: 32 – 51), 77.0% were female and 42.5% were atopic. The lifetime prevalence of WRSS was 18.7% and WRSS in the last 12 months was slightly lower (14.8%). Among the skin disease phenotypes, 12.3% had probable contact dermatitis and 3.2% probable contact urticaria. In multivariate regression models, adjusted for family history of allergy and domestic cleaning frequency, technicians (ORadj 4.45, 95% CI: 1.21-21.48) and work activities involving cleaning and disinfection of skin wounds (ORadj 2.70, 95% CI: 1.64-4.57) was associated with WRSS in the past year. A consistent trend was observed for job tasks and cleaning agents related to these work activities. Risk factors for probable contact dermatitis included the use of liquid hand soap (ORadj 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03- 2.72), sterilising instruments manually (ORadj 1.94, 95% CI: 1.15-3.19) or automatically (ORadj 3.28, 95% CI: 1.01-9.32), disinfecting skin prior to procedures (ORadj 2.29, 95% CI: 1.45-3.66) and the use of adhesives for wounds (ORadj 1.91, 95% CI: 1.20-3.07). Risk factors for probable contact urticaria included specimen preparation (ORadj 2.65, 95% CI: 1.06-6.38) and wound cleaning and disinfection (ORadj 3.10, 95% CI: 1.24-8.81). Training on protection against adverse health effects of cleaning agents (ORadj 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31-0.89) was protective against WRSS in the past year. Conclusion: Workplace activities and related factors associated with cleaning and disinfecting of patients' skin and wounds are important risk factors for WRSS in HWs. Training on the adverse health effects of cleaning agents can contribute to decreasing risks in HWs. Keywords: health workers, skin symptoms, cleaning agents DA - 2023 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Public Health and Family Medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2023 T1 - Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa TI - Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSonday Z. Determinants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2023 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40208en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066Eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.subjectPublic Health and Family Medicine
dc.titleDeterminants of work-related skin symptons and dermatitis associated with cleaning agents among health workers of two tertiary hospitals in Southern Africa
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMMed
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