Science on the development of standards and their compliance in a representative sample of Portuguese tattoo artists

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The number of Tattoo artists has been increasing and there are important Occupational Risks associated. The aim of this article was to describe the position of these professionals regarding the Recommendations and to analyze their compliance when working alone or accompanied. Methodology: It is a Mixed Exploratory Study, involving a quantitative component (Observational Analytical of transversal nature), operated through an online survey and, in a second phase, a qualitative one (Case Study), through the use of interviews. A representative sample of the population under study was obtained, considering a 90% confidence interval. The research project was approved by a Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained. Presentation and Discussion of the Results: The sample considered 207 questionnaires and nine interviews. The compliance with Standards increases with experience;those who reported that they do not always comply are those who use less the Personal Protective Equipment (t = 2.659;p = 0.008). Compliance is also influenced by the Perception of Risk, information, social pressure (more accentuated by COVID19) and motivation to increase profit. Those who considered the Recommendations to be adequate were statistically associated with compliance with Collective Protection Measures. Regarding the compliance when working alone or not, 86.0% stated that they maintained the same posture;of those who answered the opposite, 85.7% complied more alone. Those with less education were statistically associated to less compliance with the rules when alone (X2 = 12.763;p = 0.005). Final Considerations Previously unpublished data has been obtained, valuable to act effectively in this professional sector. It is fundamental to invest in training, as well as to elaborate Standards (developed jointly by Doctors/Safety Technicians and Tattoo artists). The organization of the Conventions should guarantee adequate conditions (area, access to disinfection/sterilization methods) and share Standards, promoting inspection and punishments for non-compliance, since they are the most unsafe places.