TY - JOUR

T1 - The Efficacy to Prevent Irritant Hand Eczema

T2 - an Overview of the Interventional Procedures

AU - Sonne, Mie

AU - Agner, Tove

AU - Nørreslet, Line Brok

AU - Lund, Tamara Theresia

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Purpose of review: Interventional procedures to prevent hand eczema (HE), comprising educational programs, are widely used for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of irritant contact dermatitis on the hands. This review gives an overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing the efficacy of interventional procedures and educational programs in HE prevention. Recent findings: RCTs on HE prevention differ with respect to form and implementation of interventions, populations, and follow-up times. Overall, the education has focused on use of moisturizers, gloves, and substitution of hand washes with alcohol-based hand rubs. Regarding outcome measures, the effect of interventions on prevalence (i.e., primary prevention) has been inconclusive. Meanwhile, educational programs aiming at HE patients (secondary prevention) had a positive effect on behavior in four out of five RCTs and a decrease in HE severity in four out of six RCTs (one with group-based and three with individual-based education). Positive effect on knowledge and on health-related quality of life was only found in few studies. Summary: Overall, preventive educational programs are useful. Along with intensified, individual-based educations rather than group-based education, a shorter follow-up time seems to influence outcome measures positively. Future studies should investigate the long-term benefit from repeated educational sessions to maintain the positive benefits.

AB - Purpose of review: Interventional procedures to prevent hand eczema (HE), comprising educational programs, are widely used for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of irritant contact dermatitis on the hands. This review gives an overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing the efficacy of interventional procedures and educational programs in HE prevention. Recent findings: RCTs on HE prevention differ with respect to form and implementation of interventions, populations, and follow-up times. Overall, the education has focused on use of moisturizers, gloves, and substitution of hand washes with alcohol-based hand rubs. Regarding outcome measures, the effect of interventions on prevalence (i.e., primary prevention) has been inconclusive. Meanwhile, educational programs aiming at HE patients (secondary prevention) had a positive effect on behavior in four out of five RCTs and a decrease in HE severity in four out of six RCTs (one with group-based and three with individual-based education). Positive effect on knowledge and on health-related quality of life was only found in few studies. Summary: Overall, preventive educational programs are useful. Along with intensified, individual-based educations rather than group-based education, a shorter follow-up time seems to influence outcome measures positively. Future studies should investigate the long-term benefit from repeated educational sessions to maintain the positive benefits.

KW - Hand eczema

KW - Hand eczema prevention

KW - Interventional procedures

KW - Irritant contact dermatitis

KW - Occupational hand eczema

KW - Patient education

U2 - 10.1007/s40521-020-00270-y

DO - 10.1007/s40521-020-00270-y

M3 - Review

AN - SCOPUS:85097760808

VL - 7

SP - 274

EP - 290

JO - Current Treatment Options in Allergy

JF - Current Treatment Options in Allergy

SN - 2196-3053

IS - 3

ER -