Repeated mechanical trauma to the hands and the use of anti-impaction gloves

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	Title	Repeated mechanical trauma to the hands and the use of anti-impaction gloves
	Year	2008
CREOD Investigators		Tiffany Kwok, Victoria Arrandale, Sandy Skotnicki-Grant
CREOD Research Program		Occupational Skin Disease
Research Theme		Health services – treatment, RTW
Funder		Unfunded
Product Type		Student project
Background		Repeat mechanical trauma to the hands can result in forms of irritant contact dermatitis known as frictional hand dermatitis (FHD) which can be chronic and debilitating. Management is avoidance of frictional trauma. The use of anti-impaction gloves was proposed as a treatment method.
Study Focus (Research Question/Goals/ Methods)		To describe the experience of treatment with anti-impaction gloves in workers with frictional hand dermatitis in RTW. A case series of workers with FHD is described.
Key Findings		9 workers with FHD were treated with a steroid cream, tazarotene cream and anti-impaction gloves and followed. All but one implemented the anti-impaction gloves. All workers were able to return to work.
Implications for Health/Labour Policy and Practice		Anti-impaction gloves should be considered in the management and return-to-work of workers with FHD related to mechanical trauma to the hands.
Publication Information		Publications Kwok T, Arrandale V, Skotnicki-Grant S. Repeated mechanical trauma to the hands: the use of anti-impaction gloves for treatment and return to work. Dermatitis 2009;20:278-283. Presentations Kwok T, Skotnicki-Grant S. The chronic effects of repeated mechanical trauma to the skin and the use of anti-impaction gloves for prevention and treatment. Canadian Dermatology Annual Meeting, Vancouver, June 2009.