Hand and forearm transepidermal water loss (TEWL) among healthcare professionals by sex and glove use (N=148)
| Sex | Glove use (h) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | 0–1 h | 1–4 h | >4 h | |
| Hand TEWL [g/m2/h] Median (IQR; total range) | 26.99 (19.21–36.56; 9.55–75.54) a | 18.70 (14.63–24.53; 8.91–46.77) | 17.98 (13.88–24.97; 8.91–57.70) | 19.79 (16.11–29.71; 11.67–75.54) | 21.77 (17.00–32.41; 9.55–59.95) |
| Compromised skin barrier (hand TEWL >30 g/m2/h) N (%) | 30 (45)a | 9 (11) | 3 (12) | 9 (26) | 27 (31) |
| ΔTEWL* Median (IQR, total range) | 14.94 (7.09–23.65; −12.27–43.02)a | 7.95 (3.78–11.23; −14.80–29.03) | 6.58 (1.85–10.65; −14.80–28.96)b | 7.99 (5.23–14.02; −12.27–37.91)b | 10.95 (5.70–19.57; −6.17–43.02)b |
| ΔTEWL%** [%] Median (IQR, total range) | 113 % (65–234; −38 –549)a | 63 % (41–106; −34–311) | 62 % (17–109; −32–394)b | 64 % (49–109; −38–336)b | 104 % (50–183; −34–549)b |
| Hand skin pH Median (IQR, total range) | 5.01 (4.59–5.37; 4.01–6.50)a | 5.36 (5.14–5.63; 4.06–6.39) | 5.21 (4.82–5.40; 4.09–6.16) | 5.07 (4.74–5.57; 4.01–6.18) | 5.25 (5.01–5.59; 4.23–6.50) |
| Compromised skin acidity (hand pH >5.5) N (%) | 13 (19)a | 30 (37) | 4 (15) | 10 (29) | 29 (33) |
| ΔpH*** Median (IQR, total range) | 0.23 (−0.02–0.48; −0.47–1.79) | 0.11 (−0.22–0.59; −0.87–1.39) | 0.06 (−0.22–0.31; −0.51–0.74)b | 0.16 (−0.16–0.35; −0.87–1.40)b | 0.27 (−0.02–0.66; −0.79–1.79)b |
| ΔpH%**** [%] Median (IQR, total range) | 5 % (0–11; −10–38) | 2 % (−4–12; −18–29) | 1 % (−5–6; −8–17)b | 3 % (−3–8; −18–31)b | 5 % (0–14; −15–38)b |
Hand and forearm transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by groups of healthcare professionals (N=148)
| Physicians, non–surgeon specialisations | Physicians, surgeons | Dentists, non–surgeon specialisations | Dentists, surgeons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand TEWL [g/m2/h] Median (IQR; total range) | 19.73 (14.22–24.97; 8.91–57.70)a | 19.78 (16.08–26.99; 11.03–75.54) | 20.76 (17.79–30.02; 9.55–57.87) | 25.80 (19.24–34.31; 9.91–59.95) |
| Compromised skin barrier (hand TEWL >30 g/m2/h) N (%) | 5 (14)a | 8 (22)a | 10 (27) | 16 (43) |
| Forearm TEWL [g/m2/h] Median (IQR; total range) | 11.45 (9.65–14.76; 5.89–57.37) | 12.08 (9.70–14.22; 4.84–57.71)b | 9.86 (7.93–12.75; 5.31–45.02) | 10.48 (8.64–12.93; 6.98–45.11) |
| ΔTEWL* [g/m2/h] Median (IQR, total range) | 7.20 (2.73–10.67; −14.8–28.96)a; b | 7.21 (4.54–16.85; −12.27–43.02)a | 9.99 (4.00–19.52; 0.98–37.86) | 13.39 (7.78–24.16; 0.41–37.91) |
| ΔTEWL%** [%] Median (IQR; total range) | 56 (24–106; −34–394)a; b | 65 (42–107; −38–407)a | 104 (48–189; 3–549) | 108 (67–184; 4–383) |
Personal characteristics of the participants (N=148), their habits related to skin health, and their skin condition
| Physicians, non-surgeon specialisations N=37 | Physicians, surgeons N=37 | Dentists, non-surgeon specialisations N=37 | Dentists, surgeons N=37 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men, N (%) | 5 (14) | 24 (65) | 11 (30) | 27 (73) |
| Age [years] | 41 (31–46; 27–57) | 39 (32–53; 28–63) | 39 (33–47; 25–63) | 37 (34–43; 28–62) |
| Median (IQR; total range) | ||||
| History of atopic dermatitis, N (%) | 2 (5) | 2 (5) | 8 (22) | 2 (5) |
| One or more skin lesions on clinical examination, N (%)* | 15 (41) | 15 (41) | 22 (59) | 17 (46) |
| Washing hands >20 times per day, N (%) | 14 (38) | 10 (27) | 15 (41) | 17 (46) |
| Disinfecting hands >10 times/day, N (%) | 17 (46) | 13 (35) | 6 (16) | 16 (43) |
| Gloves – time worn per day, N (%) | ||||
| 0–1h | 25 (68) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| 1–4h | 8 (22) | 18 (49) | 4 (11) | 5 (14) |
| >4h/h | 4 (11) | 18 (49) | 33 (89) | 32 (86) |
Hand and forearm pH by groups of healthcare professionals (N=148)
| Physicians, non–surgeon specialisations | Physicians, surgeons | Dentists, non–surgeon specialisations | Dentists, surgeons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand skin pH Median (IQR, total range) | 5.25 (4.84–5.43; 4.06–6.16)b | 5.07 (4.76–5.43; 4.01–6.18)b | 5.33 (5.15–5.60; 4.38–6.50)a | 5.22 (4.69–5.57; 4.26–6.23) |
| Compromised skin acidity (hand pH >5.5) N (%) | 8 (22) | 9 (24) | 14 (38) | 12 (32) |
| Forearm skin pH Median (IQR, total range) | 5.10 (4.65–5.53; 4.26–5.97) | 4.92 (4.51–5.22; 3.74–6.31) | 5.04 (4.69–5.54; 4.16–6.33)a | 4.70 (4.37–5.32; 4.01–5.88) |
| ΔpH* Median (IQR; total range) | 0.12 (−0.14–0.31; −0.87–0.90)a | 0.16 (−0.20–0.39; −0.63–1.40) | 0.30 (−0.11–0.64; −0.78–1.79) | 0.27 (0.01–0.72; −0.79–1.30) |
| ΔpH%** [%] Median (IQR, total range) | 2 (−3–7; −18–19)a | 3 (−4–8; −12–31) | 6 (−2–14; −2–38) | 6 (0–15; −15–29) |