Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are one of the high-risk careers for occupational contact dermatitis (OCD).

Objective: To compare glove usage characteristics and glove-related symptoms of HCWs in each work sector in a tertiarycare University hospital.

Material and Method: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 6,880 HCWs working in all departments of a University hospital.

Results: The questionnaire response rate was 65.8% and 82.4% of respondents wore gloves at work. HCWs from non-clinical departments used gloves significantly less often than HCWs from clinical departments. The duration of glove usage was significantly longer for HCWs from non-clinical departments. The glove usage per day was notably higher in HCWs from clinical departments. HCWs working in the clinical pathology department had the highest prevalence of glove-related symptoms.

Conclusion: The characteristics of work and pattern of glove usage of HCWs in each work sector affect both glove-related cutaneous and non-cutaneous symptoms. The present study of occupational glove-related symptoms among HCWs found a higher incidence in the clinical pathology department that appeared to be related to glove usage patterns.

Keywords: latex glove use, glove-related symptoms, health care workers