Characteristics of Latex Glove Usage and Glove-Related Symptoms among Health Care Workers in Each Work Sector of a University Hospital
Waranya Boonchai MD*, Wararat Sirikudta MD*, Pranee Kasemsarn MD*
Affiliation : * Contact Dermatitis Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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 tertiary-
care 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
