Hand dermatitis Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Dermatitis and eczema
Conditions
Interventions
1. Nurses in intervention trusts will receive the bespoke online behavioural change package (BCP). This will be developed by members of the study team with expertise in dermatology, occupational medic
on when to use antibacterial hand rubs
on when and how to wash and dry hands
on when to use moisturising cream
and to contact OH early if hand dermatitis occurs. As part of the package, nurses will be asked to form implementation intentions for performing behaviours in their workplace. These will be recorded,
Sponsors
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. All NHS trusts in England which train nurses, have an in-house occupational health (OH) service and have at least one intensive care unit (ICU) 2. First year student nurses and ICU nurses
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: In order to avoid the risk of student nurses moving placements from an intervention to a control trust (or vice versa), only one trust in each city or town will be invited to participate. London is an exception to this where three trusts were identified in which student nurses did not move to neighbouring trusts during their training.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary outcome is the change in point prevalence of visible hand dermatitis from baseline to the end of follow up. Methodology: All study participants will be asked to contact their occupational health department early if they develop hand dermatitis. Their hands, wrists and forearms will be photographed using a standardised method. The images obtained will subsequently be assessed independently by two dermatologists blinded to other information about the participant, to ascertain whether any hand dermatitis is present. A participant will be classed as a case if both observers note visible hand dermatitis. In the event of disagreement, between the two dermatologists a third arbitrator will be consulted. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcomes will be the difference between intervention and control trusts in: 1. The incidence of new episodes of hand dermatitis presenting to the OH department over the 12-months of follow-up 2. Severity of visible hand dermatitis from baseline to the end of follow-up 3. Days lost from sickness absence and days of modified duties because of hand dermatitis per 100 days of nurse time during the 12-months of follow-up 4. The change in estimated prevalence of hand colonisation by pathogenic bacteria (with or without associated dermatitis) from baseline to the end of follow-up 5. The change from baseline to after completion of the BCP, and to the end of the 12-month follow-up in beliefs about dermatitis prevention behaviours. 6. The change from baseline to the end of follow-up in the reported frequency of use of alcohol hand rubs for hand cleansing, hand-washing with water, use of recommended techniques for drying hands after washing, use of moisturising creams and use of gloves for different durations (for student nurses, who will not have started clinical attachments at the beginning of the study, this will reduce to differences between the intervention and control trusts at the end of the follow-up) 7. The change from baseline to the end of follow-up in quality of life score We will also document the reported participation in the behavioural change package, reasons given for not participating, and comments on its content. | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed