BACKGROUND: Sickness absence in hand eczema patients has been associated with stress rather than disease severity, indicating that personal aspects regarding hand eczema should be investigated further.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether patient education vs treatment as usual can influence behaviour and knowledge regarding skin protection and care, as well as personal resources, in patients with occupational hand eczema.

METHODS: PREVEX is an individually randomized clinical trial investigating the 1-year effects of a simple, low-cost group-counselling programme vs treatment as usual for patients with notified occupational hand eczema. Exploratory outcomes were behaviour, knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-evaluated skin care ability.

RESULTS: In total, 1668 patients with notified occupational skin disease were invited to participate, of whom 769 were randomized and 756 were analysed: intervention group (n = 376) vs control group (n = 380). Behaviour was improved and the knowledge score increased in the intervention group as compared with the control group (respectively: estimate 0.08; 95%CI: 0.02-0.19; P = .01; and estimate 0.49; 95%CI: 0.28-0.70; P < .001). Self-efficacy was lower in the intervention group as compared with the control group (estimate -0.78; 95%CI: -1.25 to -0.30; P = .001). No difference was found regarding skin care abilities.

CONCLUSIONS: The intervention had a positive influence on 1-year behaviour and knowledge, but was insufficient to result in long-term positive changes in personal resources regarding dealing with hand eczema.