Background: Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is a prevalent, often chronic disease that poses a risk for job loss and decreased quality of life. In Germany, a multi-step prevention programme emphasising early detection and highly specialised multidisciplinary treatment has been implemented with great success.
Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of a Danish-adapted version of the German prevention effort on OCD severity, quality of life and occupational consequences at 3-month follow-up.
Methods: Randomised, controlled trial. Participants were recruited after the first referral from General Practitioner to Dermatologist with suspected OCD. The intervention group (IG) received a Danish-adapted, multidisciplinary intervention, while the control group (CG) navigated the Danish healthcare system without interference from the study. OCD severity, occupational consequences and quality of life were assessed at 3-month follow-up using self-reported questionnaires.
Results: A statistically significant decrease in the severity of eczema was found at 3-month follow-up in the IG compared to the CG. The IG were statistically significantly more likely to have seen a dermatologist at 3-month follow-up. Higher treatment level in the IG was indicated by the results but was not statistically significant. No significant difference was found in quality of life or occupational consequences.
Conclusions: These initial findings suggest that early and specialised treatment of OCD improves OCD prognosis.
Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; controlled trial; irritant contact dermatitis; occupational; prognosis.
© 2023 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.