Swedish Female Hairdressers' Views on Their Work Environment—A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Swedish Female Hairdressers' Views on Their Work Environment—A Qualitative Study: Kerstin KRONHOLM DIAB, et al. Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden— Objectives Hairdressers have several work‐related health hazards. Little is known of their strategies for the work environment. The aim of this study was to explore female hairdressers' own views on their physical, social and psychological work environment and possibilities of influencing it, implementation of their knowledge, financial impacts and how Work‐related symptoms affect their views. Methods Fourteen hairdressers working for four years were subjected to open‐ended interviews covering aspects of the physical, social and psychological work environment. Content analysis was applied. Results An awareness of the impact of the work environment and the possibilities of influencing it emerged, but also an inability to achieve preventive improvements. This included reflections concerning ventilation, health issues, job strain, hair products, financial issues, knowledge from school and concern for having to leave the profession. The organization and acceptance of the work environment were important issues. Making the work environment an active part of their business was not common. Conclusions Female hairdressers had an awareness of their work environment but lacked the means and strategies to make it an active part of their business. The main focus was on the customers and the work techniques. Having various symptoms did not alter this. Organizational and financial issues could put limitations on the work environment. Teachers were crucial in making the work environment interesting. Hairdressing was seen with advantages and disadvantages, and its future was seen as being insecure in terms of the occupational health risks. The hairdressers expressed a great pride in their profession providing possibilities for development.

Musculoskeletal health, work-related risk factors and preventive measures in hairdressing: a scoping review

“…Most studies (89%) were published after the year 2000, which indicates that research in this occupational setting has recently increased. Of these, one study applied a qualitative study design with interviews [22] and three were national surveys of occupation-specific data which included hairdressers [23–25]. One study examined trends in compensation claims for work-related MSD [26].…”

“…The practice of good work routines depended on factors such as colleagues, personal knowledge or existing symptoms. Hairdressers’ awareness of the preventive work gained in importance when they started a business of their own [22]. In a study by Aweto et al [41] more than half of the subjects reported the gradual onset of symptoms in the first 5 years of being a hairdresser.…”