Assessing the Burden of Dermatological Diseases on Work Life from a Gender Perspective

July 2025 in “ Scientific Reports ”

Martina Padovan, Bianca Benedetta Benincasa, Salvatore Panduri, Valentina Dini, Riccardo Morganti, Riccardo Marino, Poupak Fallahi, Marco Romanelli, Rudy Foddis

atopic dermatitis psoriasis hidradenitis suppurativa Dermatological Diseases Work Impact Questionnaire Work Ability Score Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire

Studysummary In this study, researchers found that dermatological diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa impact women's work performance and daily activities more severely than men's, with women reporting higher absenteeism and work impairment and lower work ability scores.

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This study assessed the impact of dermatological diseases on work life, focusing on gender differences, using a cross-sectional analysis of 417 employed patients (231 men and 186 women) with conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Participants completed surveys including the Dermatological Diseases Work Impact Questionnaire (2DWIQ), Work Ability Score (WAS), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Results showed that women experienced significantly higher absenteeism, work impairment, and activity impairment than men, along with lower WAS scores, indicating poorer work ability. The study concludes that dermatological diseases have a greater impact on women, affecting their work performance and daily lives, highlighting the need for gender-specific interventions to alleviate the burden and improve occupational health management.

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