Review Article

A Review of the Impact of Occupational Contact Dermatitis on Quality of Life

Table 2

Study design and characteristics of different studies on OCD.

AuthorCountry and yearStudy designRecruitmentNo. of participants (% of female)Atopy (%)Mean age ± s.d., rangeDefinition of diagnosisInvestigations

Hutchings et al. [29]UK, 2001Retrospective followup using postal surveyContact dermatitis clinic181 (47.0)NA18–67OCD diagnosed by physician at baselineNA

Holness [30]Canada, 2001Cross-sectionalOccupational Health Clinic339 (54)5942.5Contact dermatitis diagnosed by physicianPatch-testing

Kadyk et al. [31]USA, 2003Retrospective followup by postal surveyContact dermatitis test centre149 (64.5)11.9 ACD diagnosed by physician at baselinePatch-testing at baseline

Lewis et al. [32]UK, 2004FollowupContact dermatitis clinic36NA36 (22–56)Work-related natural latex allergy diagnosed by physicianPrick test at baseline

Wallenhammar et al. [33]Sweden, 2004Cross-sectionalOccupational and Environmental Dermatology Clinic100 (51)NAFemales 41 (20–64), males 42 (19–64)Hand eczema diagnosed by physicianNA

Meding et al. [34]Sweden, 2005Retrospective followup using postal and telephone surveyCases from social insurance office517 (394 postal & 123 telephone) (62.5)24.516–64Occupational skin disease diagnosed by physician at baselinePatch-testing at baseline

Lazarov et al. [35]Israel, 2006Retrospective followup by telephone surveyContact dermatitis clinic70 (35.7)7.125–59OCD diagnosed by dermatologist at baselinePatch-testing at baseline

Cvetkovski et al. [36]Denmark, 2006Followup by mail 1 year after baseline questionnaire was returnedDanish National Board of Industrial Injuries (DNBII)564NA35.8Occupational hand eczema diagnosed by dermatologist at baselinePatch-testing, additional prick test when relevant

Soder et al. [37]Germany, 2007Cross-sectionalCleaning and kitchen employee who reported to BGW212 (84.0)47.2% atopic skin diathesis, 15.6% flexural eczema Employees suspected with occupational skin diseaseAllergy test prior to study

Matterne et al. [38]Germany, 2009Cross-sectionalHealthcare workers who reported to BGW278 (92.4)55.4% atopy, 23.7% flexural eczema Employees suspected with occupational skin diseaseNA

Lau et al. [39]Australia, 2010Interviewer-administered retrospective followupOccupational dermatology clinic113 (47.8)48.7 OCD diagnosed by dermatologist at baseline and at followupPatch testing at baseline

NA: information not available/not performed, SIP: secondary individual prevention, BGW: Accident Prevention and Insurance Association.