Occupational hand eczema and job change. (1st July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carøe, T.K.; Ebbehøj, N.E.; Bonde, J.P.E.; Vejlstrup, S.G.; Agner, T.
• Is Part Of: British journal of dermatology. Volume 179:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: e68
• Page End: e68
• Publication Date: 2018-07-01
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.16859
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-0963

Abstract

Summary: Occupational hand eczema is a type of eczema specifically affecting the hands and caused by a person's work. It often affects people whose hands get wet a lot or are exposed to chemicals when working, such as hairdressers and cleaners. It can cause a great deal of distress to people, affecting their health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and often meaning they have to leave work or change jobs. It is a major reason for people seeking disability benefit in countries including the UK, so as well as having a negative impact on the patient, it also impacts on society more widely. In theory, occupational hand eczema should heal when the exposure is removed; however, several studies have shown that this is unfortunately not the case in reality, and some patients may continue to have severe hand eczema symptoms. This study involved 1496 people who were suffering from occupational hand eczema in Denmark in 2010 and 2011, who then completed a questionnaire 5 years later, asking questions about their job, their eczema and their quality of life. 48.7% were still in the same profession, 32.6% had changed profession and 18.8% were not working (outside the labour market, e.g. retired, unemployed, on parental leave). Healing of hand eczema (meaning their hands were now clear of eczema) was reported by 19.5% of the participants who changed their profession and 27.3% of the participants who outside the labour market, compared with 15.8% of those still in the same profession. Looking at improvement (but not healing) of their eczema, 64.9% of the participants who had changed profession and 58.2% of the participants outside the labour market reported improvement in their hand eczema compared with 53.1% of the participants still in the same profession. However, health related quality of life was not improved by changing jobs or leaving work, and in fact worsened. Also, the authors did not ask if the participants changed to a profession with more or less exposure than the previous profession, so it is possible that some participants have changed to another high risk profession, thereby diminishing the effect of change. These two points both need further research.