Current state and intermediate results from the multicentre study "Rehabilitation of Occupational Skin Diseases - Optimisation and Quality Assurance of Inpatient Management (ROQ)" [Aktueller Stand und Zwischenergebnisse der Multi-Center-Studie "Medizinisch-berufliches Rehabilitationsverfahren Haut - Optimierung und Qualitätssicherung des Heilverfahrens (ROQ)"]

Abstract

The German stepwise procedure of handling occupational skin diseases (OSD) offers interdisciplinary integrated (inpatient/outpatient) rehabilitation measures ("tertiary individual prevention" [TIP]) for severe OSD. In 2005, a prospective cohort multicentre study started in order to evaluate TIP. 1,788 patients with severe OSD were treated and educated in five clinics with follow-up before and four weeks after return to work. During the inpatient phase, there was a significant improvement in the severity of OSD (OHSI, p < 0.001) and in the quality of life (DLQI, p < 0.001). These effects were largely sustained during the outpatient follow-up phase and in the 4 weeks after return to work. 89.4 % of all patients employed topical steroids before TIP, including 52.5% high grade topical steroids. 93.2% of the patients were able to refrain from topical steroids before returning to work. As a result of TIP, return to work was possible with 1.587 patients (88.8%). The primary objectives of TIP (return to work, improvement of OSD, enhancement of quality of life, reduction in the use of topical steroids) were successfully implemented. The long-term follow-up (1 year, 3 years and 5 years after TIP) will examine whether these favourable outcomes can be sustained. © 2013 Dustri-Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle.