Viola Hubačová Pirová, Vladimíra Lipšová, Jana Murza, Zdeněk Musil, Vladimír Musil, Ivana Líbalová
{"title":"The Impact of Robotization on Employees' Mental and Physical Health: A Qualitative Study in the Czech and Slovak Republics.","authors":"Viola Hubačová Pirová, Vladimíra Lipšová, Jana Murza, Zdeněk Musil, Vladimír Musil, Ivana Líbalová","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19054","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to explore the impact of introducing robotic technologies on employees' mental and physical health across three Czech and one Slovak manufacturing company. It sought to understand employees' subjective experiences and perceptions of organizational support during the robotization process.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted between 2023 and 2025 in four companies. 27 semi-structured interviews with employees (15 women, 12 men) and 19 unstructured interviews with managers (3 women, 16 men) were conducted on-site during working hours. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with open and axial coding.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine thematic areas were identified: general perceptions, change, fear, problems, support, social relations and communication, employee characteristics, physical health, and mental health. Employees generally perceived robotization positively, noting reduced physical workload and less monotonous or hazardous work. Initial adaptation was challenging, especially due to technical demands and workflow changes. Technical staff experienced higher stress than operators, related to responsibility, troubleshooting, and learning new skills. Technical malfunctions, elevated noise and vibration, and cognitive demands were reported as stressors. Personifying robots and informal knowledge sharing facilitated adaptation. No significant sleep disturbances or substance use linked to robotization were reported. Managers faced a high mental workload due to coordination and supervision responsibilities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>When the implementation process is well designed, robotization does not necessarily negatively affect employees' mental health. The findings highlight the importance of actively addressing organizational and human factors that influence the success of technological change in the workplace. Attention should focus on monitoring cognitive and psychological demands, particularly for technical and managerial staff.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"19054"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510295/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giacomo Giulianelli, Giuseppe Maggioni, Matteo Daverio, Roberta Polverosi, Mila Della Barbera, Paola Mason, Paolo Spagnolo, Cristina Basso, Fiorella Calabrese, Stefania Rizzo, Elisabetta Balestro
{"title":"Interstitial Lung Disease in a Dental Technician Diagnosed Through an Integrated Multidisciplinary Approach.","authors":"Giacomo Giulianelli, Giuseppe Maggioni, Matteo Daverio, Roberta Polverosi, Mila Della Barbera, Paola Mason, Paolo Spagnolo, Cristina Basso, Fiorella Calabrese, Stefania Rizzo, Elisabetta Balestro","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18798","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence from the literature indicates that workers in the dental care sector are routinely exposed to hazardous airborne agents, particularly mineral and metal dusts. This occupational risk is further amplified in settings with inadequate ventilation and insufficient use of personal protective equipment. We discuss the case of a dental technician with a significant history of occupational exposure who presented to our clinic with exertional dyspnea. High-resolution computed tomography revealed fibrosing nonspecific interstitial pneumonia associated with emphysema, and spirometry showed a severe reduction in carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. After a multidisciplinary evaluation, we performed bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), which revealed an abundance of macrophages. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry of the BAL detected silicon oxide, calcium, iron, and traces of metals typical of dental alloys (titanium, aluminum), as well as rare earth elements and toxic pollutants. These findings supported the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease due to long-term occupational exposure in dental laboratories, enabling a minimally invasive diagnostic approach. This strategy obviated the need for transbronchial biopsy, thereby avoiding a procedure associated with a high risk of pneumothorax in this patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"18798"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hanan Mohammed, Asmaa Awaad, Abdel-Hady El-Gilany, Samar Abdelraouf, Eman El-Refaay
{"title":"Women's Work and its Effects on Personal Wellbeing and Satisfaction with Life: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.","authors":"Hanan Mohammed, Asmaa Awaad, Abdel-Hady El-Gilany, Samar Abdelraouf, Eman El-Refaay","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18572","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Women's participation in the workforce has increased substantially, raising important questions about how employment is associated with their subjective well-being and satisfaction with life. This study aimed to assess differences in personal well-being and life satisfaction between working and non-working women and to identify their significant socio-demographic and occupational predictors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 402 women (192 working, 210 non-working) attending outpatient clinics at Mansoura University and primary healthcare centers. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic factors, occupational characteristics, the Personal Well-being Index-Adult (PWI-A), and the Life Satisfaction Scale(LSS). Bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses identified the independent predictors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Working women reported significantly higher well-being (PWI-A: 72.06 ± 13.03) and life satisfaction (LSS: 21.52 ± 5.76) than non-working women (PWI-A: 67.42 ± 10.14; LSS: 17.55 ± 5.91). University education (AOR = 2.81) and sufficient income (AOR = 2.94) were strong predictors of higher wellbeing. Subjective well-being (AOR = 21.67) was a significant predictor of life satisfaction. Among working women, professional (AOR = 4.76) and administrative/technical occupations (AOR = 7.40), and absence of shift work (AOR = 6.53) were associated with better wellbeing. Shorter working hours (≤40 h/week; AOR = 14.34) were linked to higher life satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Mansoura, working women exhibit higher subjective well-being and life satisfaction than non-working women. These outcomes were associated with education, income, and occupational conditions. Improving work conditions may contribute to better well-being among working women.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"18572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510294/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlotta Massotti, Paolo Bertoli, Marcella Mauro, Marco Tarabini, Angelo Tirabasso, Massimo Bovenzi
{"title":"A Portable Heat-Exchange-Based System for Assessing Digital Vascular Response to Cold.","authors":"Carlotta Massotti, Paolo Bertoli, Marcella Mauro, Marco Tarabini, Angelo Tirabasso, Massimo Bovenzi","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19227","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Digital vascular assessment is relevant in occupational medicine, but current measurement methods may be complex and poorly portable.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To validate a portable heat-exchange-based system for assessing cold-induced digital vascular response, using strain-gauge plethysmography as the reference method.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty healthy volunteers, 10 males and 10 females, underwent five subsequent sessions. Finger blood flow (FBF) was assessed by strain-gauge plethysmography, while simultaneously, fingertip thermal power (TP) was recorded with a portable thermoflowmeter. FBF was measured at baseline, while both FBF and TP were measured during application of 1-N contact force alone and during 1-N force combined with local cooling at 10 °C. The relationship between TP and FBF, after adjustment for covariates (age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and room temperature), was evaluated in the cooled condition using a linear mixed model including fixed and random effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Local cooling induced a significant vascular response, with FBF decreasing from 1.23 to 0.98 ml/100 ml/s (p<0.0001). In the cooled-condition model, TP was significantly associated with FBF, with each 1 ml/100ml/s increase in FBF corresponding to a 39.6 mW increase in TP (p<0.0001). Under cooling, TP showed lower within-subject variability than FBF (wsCV ≈0.19 vs ≈0.64). BMI was positively associated with TP (4.40 mW per kg/m², p=0.007), whereas age and sex were not significant predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings support the interpretation of TP as a perfusion-related thermal descriptor with potential applicability in occupational health surveillance. Further validation in subjects with digital vascular disorders is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"19227"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510296/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paolo Boffetta, David Zaridze, Beata Świątkowska, Tamás Pándics, Jolanta Lissowska, Eleonóra Fabiánová, John K Field, Dana Mates, Miriam Schejbalová, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Anush Mukheria, Chengfeng Yang, Monireh Sadat Seyyedsalehi
{"title":"Combined Occupational Exposure to Lead and Other Metals and Risk of Lung Cancer.","authors":"Paolo Boffetta, David Zaridze, Beata Świątkowska, Tamás Pándics, Jolanta Lissowska, Eleonóra Fabiánová, John K Field, Dana Mates, Miriam Schejbalová, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Anush Mukheria, Chengfeng Yang, Monireh Sadat Seyyedsalehi","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18905","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The evidence linking occupational exposure to lead and cancer in humans is suggestive. Existing studies examine individual exposure to lead, ignoring the potential joint effects of mixed metal exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed the data of a case-control study of lung cancer conducted in seven European countries and comprising 2,861 cases and 2,936 controls, with a detailed assessment of occupational exposure to arsenic, cadmium, chromium (VI), and lead, to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of lung cancer for combined exposure to lead and these other carcinogenic metals, after adjustment for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results suggested a synergism between lead and arsenic or cadmium: ORs were around 1.0 for lead alone and above 2.0 for combined exposure. No interaction was suggested between lead and chromium (VI).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results provide suggestive evidence of a possible interaction between occupational exposure to lead, arsenic, or cadmium and lung cancer risk, and highlight the importance of considering mixed metal exposures in occupational epidemiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"18905"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510300/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bridging Two Gaps: A Roadmap for Collaboration Between Occupational Physicians and General Practitioners.","authors":"Giuseppe De Palma","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19121","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.19121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Occupational physicians (OPs) and general practitioners (GPs) manage overlapping aspects of the same patient's health yet rarely communicate with one another. By assigning OPs a role in promoting cancer screening, Law 198/2025 has created in Italy a regulatory link between occupational surveillance and public health prevention-a link that cannot function without a structured exchange of data between the two professional roles. This commentary argues that the new regulatory framework, together with Legislative Decree 135/2024 on carcinogens, mutagens, and substances toxic to reproduction, and Legislative Decree 29/2024 on active aging, offers an unprecedented-yet narrow-window of opportunity to build formal collaboration between OPs and GPs in Italy. Another argument concerns the growing presence of foreign-born workers, who may carry undiagnosed endemic conditions and face language barriers that make OP-GP coordination essential for safe fitness-for-work assessments. Drawing on documented challenges from similar initiatives in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Finland, we identify the main structural obstacles in the Italian context and propose a three-tiered roadmap for implementation, progressing from immediate consensus-based models to the long-term integration of occupational health data into the Electronic Health Record 2.0.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"19121"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ekim Sağlam Gürmen, Mustafa Yorgancıoğlu, Hasan Demirbaş
{"title":"Sleep Quality and Physiological Stress in Emergency Physicians During 24‑Hour Shifts: A Wearable‑Based Occupational Health Assessment.","authors":"Ekim Sağlam Gürmen, Mustafa Yorgancıoğlu, Hasan Demirbaş","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18894","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Shift-based work schedules may disrupt circadian rhythm and adversely affect sleep and stress regulation among healthcare workers. Emergency physicians are particularly exposed to high-intensity workloads and prolonged 24-hour shifts, which can increase occupational strain. Methods: This study was conducted between April and December 2024 in a tertiary emergency department. Participants wore a smartwatch continuously for 30 days to record sleep architecture and heart rate variability-based stress indicators. Physiological parameters obtained during 24-hour shifts and at home were compared. Analyses were performed across four professional-experience groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sleep duration, deep sleep percentage, deep sleep continuity score, breathing quality score, and overall sleep score were lower during 24-hour shifts, whereas light sleep percentage, nighttime awakenings, and stress levels were higher (all p < 0.001). Physicians with greater professional experience had longer sleep duration and lower stress levels during 24-hour shifts compared with early-career residents. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that professional experience was the only independent predictor of stress levels during shifts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Shift work in emergency medicine is associated with impaired sleep quality and increased physiological stress. Professional experience appears to mitigate stress responses but does not fully restore sleep quality. These findings support the need for targeted occupational strategies, including optimized workload distribution and structured support for early-career physicians, to improve well-being and ensure patient safety in high-intensity clinical environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"18894"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510297/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Scoping Review of Workplace Violence Among Nurses in Indonesia: Implications for Educational and Reporting Models.","authors":"Ardia Putra, Yuswardi Yuswardi, Mayanti Mahdarsari, Andara Maurissa, Hajjul Kamil","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.17087","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.17087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Workplace violence (WPV) is a critical issue in healthcare systems globally, disproportionately affecting nurses due to their frontline role in patient care. The International Council of Nurses recognizes WPV, including verbal abuse, threats, harassment, and physical assault, as a persistent threat to nurses' safety and well-being. In Indonesia, the magnitude of WPV against nurses remains underexplored, and there is limited evidence supporting the development of culturally responsive educational models tailored to local healthcare settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was conducted to analyze current research on workplace violence affecting nurses in Indonesian hospitals. Various electronic databases and gray literature were thoroughly examined using relevant keyword combinations: \"Workplace Violence,\" \"Nurse,\" \"Hospital in Indonesia,\" and \"Abuse.\" Studies were included if they (i) constituted original research, (ii) investigated WPV incidents within hospital environments in Indonesia, (iii) specifically focused on nurses, and (iv) utilized either quantitative or qualitative methodologies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review identified recurring themes related to the high prevalence of WPV among nurses in Indonesian hospitals. Factors contributing to WPV included a lack of institutional support, the absence of standardized reporting systems, and limited awareness and training. While a few studies proposed interventions, none presented a comprehensive or context-specific educational model for WPV prevention and reporting tailored to Indonesia's sociocultural setting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is an urgent need for a structured, culturally adapted workplace violence educational model for nurses in Indonesia. Such a model should integrate reporting mechanisms and preventive strategies to ensure workplace safety and improve healthcare services delivered to the community.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 4","pages":"17087"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510298/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edoardo Marelli, Davide Ruongo, Giacomo Beschi, Nicolò Valsecchi, Vito Romano, Francesco Semeraro, Simone Dalola, Emma Sala, Cesare Tomasi, Vittorio Ferrari, Marco Ferrari, Giuseppe De Palma
{"title":"Objective Assessment of Visual Workload in Video Display Terminal Workers Using a Non-Invasive Monitoring System.","authors":"Edoardo Marelli, Davide Ruongo, Giacomo Beschi, Nicolò Valsecchi, Vito Romano, Francesco Semeraro, Simone Dalola, Emma Sala, Cesare Tomasi, Vittorio Ferrari, Marco Ferrari, Giuseppe De Palma","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18795","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The risk assessment for video display terminal (VDT) operators in occupational settings often relies on indirect estimates, such as self-reported screen time, which may not accurately reflect the true visual workload. The objective is to assess visual workload in VDT workers by measuring active screen fixation time with a non-invasive monitoring system and to explore its relationship with ocular surface alterations and fatigue-related indicators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 38 administrative workers employed at a hospital booking center. Active VDT screen fixation, as well as shift duration and time spent in front of the VDT screen, were objectively measured using a patented video-based monitoring system. Ophthalmological evaluation included the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI®), tear break-up time (BUT), and slit-lamp examination. Other investigated markers included blink rate, the Percentage of Eyelid Closure over the Pupil over Time (PERCLOS), and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Active screen fixation accounted for approximately 60% of the total recorded working time. Ophthalmological assessment identified alterations of the ocular surface in a substantial proportion of workers, with pathological BUT values observed in nearly half (47%) of the study population. No statistically significant associations were found between objectively measured fixation time and ocular or fatigue-related outcomes. PERCLOS80 and blink rate values remained within physiological ranges across the work shift.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Objective measurement of screen fixation provides a more accurate characterization of visual workload among VDT workers than indirect exposure estimates and may support occupational health surveillance and risk assessment in VDT-exposed workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 3","pages":"18795"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13353174/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148310238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marco Polonioli, Marco Dubini, Silvia Mariel Ferrucci, Paolo Marraccini
{"title":"The Evolving Landscape of Contact Dermatitis Diagnosis: A Critical Appraisal of Recent Regulatory Constraints.","authors":"Marco Polonioli, Marco Dubini, Silvia Mariel Ferrucci, Paolo Marraccini","doi":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18631","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.2026.18631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current limited availability of patch tests for diagnosing Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and occupational or non-professional diseases, in accordance with AIFA regulations, has significantly affected the diagnostic approach for patients and affected workers. The issue is even more severe for haptens of occupational origin. In occupational medicine, the patch test is crucial for establishing the causal link between the skin disease and the patient's work activities. Accurate diagnosis is essential for occupational physicians both to determine the need for a job change and to assess workers' compensation. Due to limited diagnostics and regulatory restrictions, it remains impossible to diagnose occupational ACD. In this context, occupational doctors will focus on primary prevention by avoiding risk products and replacing them with non-sensitizing or non-cross-reactive alternatives. This paper addresses the challenges posed by the new AIFA (Italian Medicines Agency) diagnostic restrictions and explores potential solutions and future perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"117 3","pages":"18631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13353169/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148310271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}