Hand dermatitis among veterinarians from Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Background: Although hand dermatitis (HD) represents a frequent occupational issue for many health professionals, little is known about the prevalence and distribution of HD among veterinarians, particularly in Australia.

Aim: We utilized a previously validated questionnaire survey to examine a cross-section of veterinarians from Queensland, Australia, to determine the prevalence of HD and its associated factors.

Method: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of HD, which was mailed to 1094 veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland during 2006 (64.0% response rate).

Results: The overall prevalence rate of HD during this study was 15.9%. HD prevalence was significantly higher in those with current allergic disease (P < 0.001), among female veterinarians (P < 0.001), and those reporting latex allergy in the past 12 months (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Overall, this study suggests that HD may be more prevalent among veterinarians in Queensland than among their counterparts studied elsewhere. Veterinary practices may need to consider making non-latex gloves available or avoiding latex products wherever possible, particularly for their female staff. The importance of HD to the veterinary profession is predicted to increase as females begin to make up a greater proportion of registered veterinarians as result of a demographic shift.