Dermatoses determined in a population of farmers in questionnaire-based clinical study including methodology validation

Abstract

30-5.Objectives The study analyzed skin diseases in a population sample of Finnish farmers descriptively and in the process validated the question "Do you have a skin disease now?" Methods All farmers from one Finnish municipality were surveyed for dermatoses, first with a questionnaire and then with a clinical examination of those who reported dermatoses. Another population of farmers answered a set of questions in~n~ediately before a clinical examination, and the self-report of current dermatosis was validated.Results Eczema was diagnosed for 66% of the women and 53% of the Inen who had reported dermatosis in the questionnaire study 6 to 12 months earlier. Toe-web maceration, psoriasis, folliculitis, and acne were, after eczema, the most frequent diagnoses (in that order). In more than 50% of the cases, the location of clinically determined dermatoses corresponded with the skin disease areas reported 6 to 12 months earlier. In the validation study, everyone who reported a skin disease immediately before the clinical examination were found to have a skin disease. In addition 22% of those not reporting dermatosis were found to have a skin disease. Toeweb maceration was the most colnlnon dermatosis not reported by the farmers.C O~C~U S~O~~S Finnish farmers suffered from the same type of dermatoses as other populations. The prevalence of eczema and hand eczema was similar to that of other risk populations. A self-report of current dermatosis is probably a good indicator of the point prevalence of explicit skin diseases in populations.

Risk factors for work-related eczema and urticaria among vocational students of agriculture

“…The prevalence of hand eczema at the time of medical examination found in this study (point prevalence 1.4%) was similar to the rates observed in other occupational groups in Poland (1.9%) [16]. These figures were, however, considerably lower than the point prevalence of 5.8% found among Finnish farmers [17]. This discrepancy might be explained by the older age, as well as possible differences in exposures, working habits and genetic background of Finnish farmers, as well as different criteria for diagnosing hand eczema.…”

Dermal exposure assessment in occupational epidemiologic research

“…However, several studies have shown that standard questionnaires for identifying skin diseases or symptoms have limited use in epidemiologic studies because the overall validity is moderate with generally a moderate-to-high specificity (range 71-99%) but lower sensitivity (range 31-76%) (75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80). Recently, questionnaires using pictures of visual symptoms of skin diseases have been developed, and it is anticipated that their validity, and thus their applicability for epidemiologic research, will improve.…”

Prevalence of occupational skin diseases among rice field workers in Haryana

“…According to an earlier report, self reporting of skin diseases is good indicator of prevalence of skin diseases in agricultural workers. 37 Human subjects in rural Haryana were more willing to participate in interview based study as compared to other method of intervention. 38 All physical, biological and chemical factor like hot and humidity caused due to standing water as irritant and sunlight, can play role in occurrence of skin diseases.…”