Title: Assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of using a hand dermatitis screening questionnaire in a workplace health surveillance programme
Aim: To investigate whether using a single question to screen for hand dermatitis is practical, well-received, and effective in a workplace health surveillance program. We specifically want to focus on both clinical and non-clinical staff who are at risk of developing hand dermatitis, and we also want to examine how well this approach works for people with different skin types (colours).
What the research will involve:
A cross-sectional survey of NHS workers at risk of developing occupational hand dermatitis, with a follow-up by teledermatology using selfies taken with a mobile phone camera. Participants will be asked to complete a brief self-assessment skin surveillance screening tool. The participants self-assessment of hand dermatitis will be compared with the assessment by our specially trained dermatology research nurse using the Validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD) tool with follow-up assessments by the study dermatologists. The study will be implemented at Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (Wales).
What has the study found so far?
A scoping review was undertaken to investigate the evidence for effective digital skin surveillance methods for detecting hand dermatitis. Of the 755 papers assessed for eligibility, only five articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. This scoping review has been written up and submitted to a journal for consideration and is currently under peer review. More details to follow in due course. The findings will be incorporated into the findings from the planned interventional study.
We have secured approval from the NHS Health Research Authority to conduct the study and the study is now under research governance review at our four participating NHS sites. We anticipate recruitment will commence in late 2025.
Study Team: Dr Vaughan Parsons and external partners
Further information: Vaughan.parsons@nhs.net
Funder: The Colt Foundation