Abstract
Background: Nurses are at high risk of hand dermatitis. Regular hand moisturising can prevent dermatitis, but nurses’ use of hand moisturisers is suboptimal.
Aims: To establish a) what beliefs about hand dermatitis and hand moisturiser use are associated with hand moisturiser use by nurses at home and at work and b) if hand moisturiser use behaviours in nurses are associated with their prevalence of hand dermatitis.
Methods: We used a questionnaire to investigate nurses’ knowledge, beliefs and behaviours regarding hand dermatitis and use of hand moisturisers.
Results: The response rate was 55/65 (85%). 42 Forty two (76%) participants agreed that applying hand moisturisers reduced the risk of dermatitis, and 53 (96%) agreed that dermatitis increased the risk of skin carrying pathogenic organisms. Frequent moisturiser application was associated with beliefs that it was part of the nurse’’s role to apply hand creams, a belief that that they had had training in the use of moisturisers and believing that patients approved of them moisturising their hands.
Conclusions: Hand moisturiser use by nurses can be improved by enhancing their beliefs that it is part of their professional role to apply hand cream regularly.
Aims: To establish a) what beliefs about hand dermatitis and hand moisturiser use are associated with hand moisturiser use by nurses at home and at work and b) if hand moisturiser use behaviours in nurses are associated with their prevalence of hand dermatitis.
Methods: We used a questionnaire to investigate nurses’ knowledge, beliefs and behaviours regarding hand dermatitis and use of hand moisturisers.
Results: The response rate was 55/65 (85%). 42 Forty two (76%) participants agreed that applying hand moisturisers reduced the risk of dermatitis, and 53 (96%) agreed that dermatitis increased the risk of skin carrying pathogenic organisms. Frequent moisturiser application was associated with beliefs that it was part of the nurse’’s role to apply hand creams, a belief that that they had had training in the use of moisturisers and believing that patients approved of them moisturising their hands.
Conclusions: Hand moisturiser use by nurses can be improved by enhancing their beliefs that it is part of their professional role to apply hand cream regularly.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Occupational Medicine |
| Volume | 68 |
| Early online date | 7 May 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Jun 2018 |