Risk Factors and Predictive Model for Occupational Contact Dermatitis Among Nurses in Hefei, China: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and protective measures of occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) among nurses in Hefei, China; create a predictive model for nurses' experiencing contact dermatitis; and assess the model's effectiveness.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey using the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire 2002 was conducted among 273 nurses at a hospital in Hefei, China, from December 2022 to February 2023. Predictive factors for nurses' contact dermatitis were identified through regression analyses. A predictive model, represented by a nomogram, was established based on these factors, and its predictive performance was evaluated by calibration curve and the decision curve analysis plot.

RESULTS

Contact dermatitis was found among 20.51% of nurses. Those with allergies were 4.34 times more likely to develop OCD (95% CI = 2.29-8.24), whereas individuals with dry skin had a 2.82 times higher risk (95% CI = 1.07-7.47). Using protective gloves and uniforms reduced the risk by 50% to 60%. The established nomogram model exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.734 (95% CI = 0.661-0.807), demonstrated satisfactory calibration, and showed a favorable net benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses with allergies or dry skin are more likely to develop OCD, but wearing gloves is a helpful preventive measure. The created model predicts nurses' OCD risk, which can identify high-risk individuals for early intervention.