Hand dermatitis among female nursing students in tropical Australia

Smith, Derek R., and Leggat, Peter A. (2004) Hand dermatitis among female nursing students in tropical Australia. Nursing and Health Sciences, 6 (2). pp. 109-113.

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Abstract

Although hand dermatitis is known to affect nursing students worldwide, the prevalence among their Australian counterparts has not been elucidated and the relative contribution of tropical environments is unclear. Therefore, we conducted the first investigation of hand dermatitis among 232 female, undergraduate nurses in tropical Australia using a previously validated methodology. Hand dermatitis prevalence rose from 10.8% in the first year to 27.4% by the third year and averaged 18.5% across all three grades. Pre-existing atopic dermatitis caused a 7.8-fold risk increase during logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR] 7.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–21.1, P < 0.0001). Overall, this study suggests that hand dermatitis is less common among tropical Australian nursing students than their counterparts around the world. The identification of atopic dermatitis as a hand dermatitis risk factor was, however, consistent with previous research conducted in non-tropical areas.

Item ID: 6970
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1442-2018
Keywords: female; hand dermatitis; North Queensland; nursing students; survey; tropics
Date Deposited: 30 Mar 2010 05:53
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920504 Occupational Health @ 100%
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