TY - JOUR
T1 - The correlation between self-reported hand eczema and clinically based diagnosis in professional cleaners
AU - Sedeh, Farnam Barati
AU - Ullum, Anna Glenn
AU - Michaelsdóttir, Thórunn Elísabet
AU - Bang Christensen, Karl
AU - Stückler, Sarah Gharabaghi
AU - Jemec, Gregor Borut Ernst
AU - Mortensen, Ole Steen
AU - Ibler, Kristina Sophie
N1 - © 2024 The Author(s). Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - BACKGROUND: Most studies investigating the prevalence of hand eczema (HE) in professional cleaners use self-reported questionnaire-based data. However, no validation studies of self-reporting of HE among professional cleaners have previously been conducted.OBJECTIVES: To investigate (1) the point prevalence of self-reported HE, (2) the point prevalence of HE estimated by physical examination of the hands and (3) the sensitivity and specificity of self-reporting of HE compared with the diagnosis based on physical examination among professional cleaners.METHODS: Professional cleaners at three different hospitals in Region Zealand were invited to fill out a questionnaire. The point prevalence of self-reported HE was estimated based on questions from the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, each cleaner underwent a physical examination of the hands by a dermatologist on the same day.RESULTS: In total, 234 cleaners were invited to participate in the study, and 224 (response rate = 96.0%) agreed to take part. Based on the self-reported questionnaires, 5.3% (n = 12) of the cleaners had current HE. Based on an examination by a physician, 19.2% (n = 43) of the cleaners had current HE. The sensitivity of self-reported HE was found to be 28.0%, while the specificity was found to be 100.0%. The positive predictive value was found to be 100.0%, while the negative predictive value was 85.0%.CONCLUSION: The true point prevalence of HE among professional cleaners is underestimated when based on self-reporting.
AB - BACKGROUND: Most studies investigating the prevalence of hand eczema (HE) in professional cleaners use self-reported questionnaire-based data. However, no validation studies of self-reporting of HE among professional cleaners have previously been conducted.OBJECTIVES: To investigate (1) the point prevalence of self-reported HE, (2) the point prevalence of HE estimated by physical examination of the hands and (3) the sensitivity and specificity of self-reporting of HE compared with the diagnosis based on physical examination among professional cleaners.METHODS: Professional cleaners at three different hospitals in Region Zealand were invited to fill out a questionnaire. The point prevalence of self-reported HE was estimated based on questions from the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, each cleaner underwent a physical examination of the hands by a dermatologist on the same day.RESULTS: In total, 234 cleaners were invited to participate in the study, and 224 (response rate = 96.0%) agreed to take part. Based on the self-reported questionnaires, 5.3% (n = 12) of the cleaners had current HE. Based on an examination by a physician, 19.2% (n = 43) of the cleaners had current HE. The sensitivity of self-reported HE was found to be 28.0%, while the specificity was found to be 100.0%. The positive predictive value was found to be 100.0%, while the negative predictive value was 85.0%.CONCLUSION: The true point prevalence of HE among professional cleaners is underestimated when based on self-reporting.
U2 - 10.1111/cod.14611
DO - 10.1111/cod.14611
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38845162
VL - 91
SP - 104
EP - 111
JO - Contact Dermatitis
JF - Contact Dermatitis
SN - 0105-1873
IS - 2
ER -