Occupational dermatoses in the Brazilian South region recorded in a reporting system (2007 to 2016)

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese

Introduction

Occupational skin diseases are a frequently self-reported condition in industrialized countries. However, there are few developed and standardized self-report instruments to screen the population at risk for occupational dermatological diseases.

Objectives

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the long and short versions of The Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.

Methods

The process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the questionnaire was developed following the good practice recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research.

Results

After translation into Brazilian Portuguese, the first reconciled version of the questionnaire was evaluated in a first round of interviews with 28 individuals, including patients with dermatological disease and healthy people. In the first meeting of the study review group, changes were made to 43 questions (75.4%) (e.g., inclusion of definition of terms, reformulation of instructions, and changes to alternative words or synonyms). In the second meeting of the study review group, there were modifications in three questions, creation of the second consensus version in Brazilian Portuguese, and then the back-translation of this version. After the second round of cognitive interviews, which took place with 10 patients, we had the third review group meeting (no modification was made) and definition of the final version of the questionnaire.

Conclusions

The short and long versions of the Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire questionnaire are available in Brazilian Portuguese.

Reports of occupational dermatosis in the state of Espírito Santo from 2007 to 2016

INTRODUCTION

Occupational dermatoses account for a large fraction of work-related illnesses, and have significant economic and social repercussions. Though these conditions are subject to mandatory reporting, they are often underdiagnosed, and have only been scarcely studied in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the profile of workers affected by occupational dermatosis based on reports sent to the Information System on Notifiable Diseases [Sistema de Informação de Agravos e de Notificação (SINAN)], and provide evidence to support disease prevention initiatives.

METHODS

The following data were collected from incident reports sent in the state of Espírito Santo, from 2007 to 2016: city, year, age of worker, education level, gender, causal agent, race, occupation, lesion site, and need for medical leave. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, using frequency and percentage statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 340 incidents were reported in the state of Espírito Santo, which most cases (79%) occurring in the city of Atílio Vivácqua. The highest number of cases involved female workers aged 20 to 29 years, with complete primary and incomplete secondary education, in unskilled occupations such as domestic work, and were associated with exposure to chemical agents such as chlorine, detergents, and latex. The lesion site was reported in fewer than 2% of cases. At least 25% of affected workers required medical leave.

CONCLUSIONS

The individuals most frequently affected by occupational dermatosis were women, aged 20 to 29 years, with complete primary education, in unskilled occupations. There is a need for greater investment in the education of unskilled workers, especially those who perform cleaning services.