Back and neck problems as well as disadvantageous ergonomic behavior patterns in university students: Concomitants of the pandemic?

Background: As a part of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures, universities converted courses to digital formats, leading to remote studying. It is unclear how these measures affect university students in terms of musculoskeletal problems (i.e., neck and back pain), e.g., by non-ergonomically equipped home offices or reduced physical activity. Material(s) and Method(s): Students from Osnabruck University weresurveyed via fully standardized online questionnaires from early March to mid-April 2022 (6 weeks) about neck and back problems, movement behavior in home offices, and personal information. Result(s): Of 447 students who clicked on the link, 378 students (80.4% female, mean age: 24.1 +/- 4.2 years) answered the questionnaire (response rate: 84.6%). 299 (79.1%) students suffered from neck pain and 294 (77.8%) from back pain during the pandemic. 206 (54.4%) students generally used ergonomic furniture, 83 (22.0%) used ergonomic sitting furniture, 57 (15.1%) used a standing desk, and 212 (56.1%) used aids for a more comfortable use of laptops in home office. 203 (53.7%) students took movement breaks in home office, 207 (54.8%) worked out regularly, and 65 (17.2%) moved regularly in the fresh air. Conclusion(s): The present study found a high rate of neck and back pain amongst university students. Measures are needed to prevent neck and back pain in this group, considering that increased physical activity and enhanced home office equipment might be beneficial.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH

Acceptance of skin products in healthcare workers: an empirical investigation.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing hand eczema (HE). This can be exacerbated by hygiene measures related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Using mild skin cleansers and emollients or moisturizers is central in the prevention of HE-especially with increased COVID-19 hygiene regimes. AIMS: This study aimed to assess parameters important for the acceptance of a skincare concept in HCWs. METHODS: In this proof-of-concept user trial, HCWs were provided ad libitum with hand wash oil and hand cream during the 6-month period, when occupationally acquired COVID-19 infections among HCWs were peaking in Germany and then surveyed about acceptance of the products using questionnaires. RESULTS: Of 135 HCWs, 115 (85%) responded. Skin tolerance of the hand wash oil and the hand cream was rated very good by 63% and 52% of the 115 participants, respectively. Of the 115 participants, 58% and 57% were very satisfied with the hand wash oil and the hand cream, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of skin cleansing and skincare products in HCWs seems influenced by parameters such as self-assessed skin tolerance and self-reported overall satisfaction. It must be assumed that products are only used as recommended if they are well-accepted. Employers might survey employees about acceptance of products using the parameters identified to adjust concepts if necessary to sustainably contribute to the prevention of HE.

Contact dermatitis in healthcare workers: epidemic at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are generally exposed to a considerable amount of wet work - including a high frequency of hand washing and long wearing periods of protective gloves with accompanying heat congestion and sweating by occlusion - and thus a high risk of developing hand eczema (HE), mainly caused by irritant contact dermatitis. Intensified hand hygiene measures have been implemented for containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which emerged in the beginning of 2020 and has led to increased skin strain in the general population and particularly in HCWs who face a double burden due to elevated hygiene measures both in private life and at work. Recent studies verify that prevalence of occupational dermatoses in HCWs has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for preventing occupational HE include the use of adequate skin cleansing substances and skin care products, which can be taught within health education programs. It was previously shown that health education interventions are effective in the prevention of occupational dermatoses and especially HE. The unprecedentedly high incidence of contact dermatitis in HCWs associated with COVID-19-associated hygiene measures entails the need for tailored HE prevention strategies to preserve the working ability of HCWs who are urgently needed in tackling the pandemic and its consequences. Current findings and future perspectives will be discussed in this speech.

Adverse skin reactions caused by masks in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an empirical investigation in a Lower Saxonian maximum-care hospital

Introduction: In order to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, strict hygiene measures have been introduced for healthcare workers (HCW). An increase in the occurrence of skin changes in the facial area due to the wearing of masks has already been shown for the private sector. For professional collectives, there is a lack of data. This paper aims at evaluating and quantifying the occurrence of skin changes in the facial area associated with wearing a mask in HCW. Methods: In November 2021, a written survey was conducted in HCW working in a Lower Saxonian maximum-care hospital using fully standardized questionnaires. Results: 192 HCW participated. The average daily wearing time of a mask in the collective (n = 192) adds up to 0.6 +/- 1.7 hours before the pandemic and to 9.0 +/- 1.9 hours during the pandemic. 10.9% of the 192 participants stated that they had suffered from skin changes in the facial area before the introduction of the COVID-19-associated hygiene measures and 80.7% of the 192 participants stated that they had suffered from skin changes in the facial area - which can be attributed to wearing a mask according to self-assessment - since the introduction of the COVID-19-associated hygiene measures. Discussion: Not only a surge in the daily mask wearing time, but also a substantial increase in the occurrence of skin changes in the facial area that are associated with wearing a mask in HCW can be traced back to COVID-19-associated hygiene measures. The need for information about preventive measures indicates that the increased occurrence of skin changes in the facial area is perceived as burdensome by HCW. Conclusion: Since no decline of COVID-19-associated hygiene measures is to be expected in the foreseeable future, HCW should be provided with information on the prevention of skin changes in the facial area. In (occupational) dermatological practice, the use of adequate, individualized skin cleansing and skin care concepts is advisable. Comprehensive primary preventive content can be included in health education training measures - also in the sense of an e-learning/e-health concept.

What do COVID-19-associated hygiene measures mean for the skin health of healthcare workers? Results of a controlled, prospective intervention study

Introduction: More than 100,000 occupational COVID-19 infections in healthcare workers (HCW) were reported in Germany from 12/2020 to 6/2021. Hygiene measures were consequently tightened further. We investigated the impact of current hygiene measures on the incidence of hand eczema (HE) and the effect of prevention measures during the above-mentioned period. Materials and Methods: 302 nurses from two hospitals were recruited for a controlled intervention study. The intervention group (IG, n=135) underwent a two-part intervention (online health education course and provision of a skin cleansing and skin care product ad libitum). The control group (CG, n=167) received no intervention. The skin condition of the hands was assessed by a dermatologist at baseline (T0) and after 6 months (T2) using the Osnabrueck Hand Eczema Severity Index (OHSI). Results: The drop-out rate was 16.9% at T2. New HE developed in none of the 115 participants of the IG but in 12 (8.8%) of the 136 participants of the CG. With the same baseline score (1.5 points in both groups at T0), the OHSI showed statistically significantly better values in the IG than in the CG at T2 (0.6 points vs. 2.1 points, p<.001). Conclusions: The intervention did not only contribute to maintenance but even to improvement of the skin condition. A decrease in hygiene measures is not to be expected in the foreseeable future. The use of the intervention concept in the context of the prevention of occupational HE among HCW seems reasonable. Skin protection and skin care recommendations of the online health education course can also be adapted for other high-risk occupations.