Occupational hand eczema among nurses: Prevalence and contributing factors in northern West Bank

Background: Occupational hand eczema (OHE) is highly prevalent among nurses, especially in ICUs. The COVID-۱۹ pandemic worsened this, yet data from Palestine remains scarce.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of OHE and identify its associated risk factors among nurses working in ICUs and NICUs in governmental hospitals in the northern region of the West Bank.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses with over one year of experience in the ICU and NICU departments of governmental hospitals in the northern West Bank. Data on demographics, work-related characteristics, and hand eczema symptoms were collected using a self-administered questionnaire modeled after the validated Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-۲۰۰۲). Of the ۲۱۵ questionnaires distributed, ۱۵۳ were completed and returned, yielding a response rate of ۷۱.۱%.Results: The study included ۱۵۳ nurses (۵۱.۶% female) with a mean age of ۳۱.۷ (±۶.۶) years and a mean professional experience of ۷.۷ (±۵.۹) years. The point prevalence of self-reported hand eczema was ۱۷.۶%. Bivariate analysis identified significant associations (p<۰.۰۵) between hand eczema and a family history of eczema, prolonged protective glove use, pre-existing medical skin conditions, lack of emollient availability at the workplace, non-use of moisturizing products, occupational exposure to irritant materials, and skin-irritating hobbies. No significant relationship was found with age, years of experience, or handwashing frequency. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed these as independent predictors, with the highest odds ratios for prolonged glove use (OR = ۶.۱۸, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۲۵–۳۰.۵۶), medical skin conditions (OR = ۵.۳۲, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۲۹–۲۱.۸۸), and family history of eczema (OR = ۴.۳۹, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۳۸–۱۳.۹۳). Absence of workplace emollients (OR = ۳.۷۵), non-use of moisturizers (OR = ۳.۰۴), exposure to irritants (OR = ۲.۶۳), and skin-irritating hobbies (OR = ۲.۴۸) were also significant independent risk factors.Conclusion: Hand eczema is a common occupational problem among ICU and NICU nurses in the Northern West Bank. The findings underscore a multifactorial aetiology, involving both personal susceptibility (e.g., genetic predisposition, pre-existing skin conditions) and modifiable occupational exposures (e.g., prolonged glove use, lack of skin care resources). This highlights an urgent need for targeted workplace interventions, including the provision of emollients, educational programs on proper skin care, and policies to mitigate irritant exposure, to protect the skin health of this vital workforce.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hand eczema ، Healthcare Workers ، Prevalence ، risk factors ، Intensive Care Unit