8292639 Working conditions and work-related symptoms of eyelash stylists in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic

<h3>Objective</h3> Eyelash extension is a beauty treatment established in recent years. Our hypothesis was that eyelash stylists would be professionally as well as personally affected by the conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to survey changes in working conditions and work-related symptoms among Swedish eyelash stylists during the COVID-19 pandemic. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> A questionnaire with 20 questions about work-related respiratory and eye symptoms, eczema, and working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic was sent by email to 154 eyelash stylists in June 2021. The eyelash stylists had previously participated in a survey with similar focus. In that study, the respondents had agreed to further contact. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm, Sweden. <h3>Results</h3> Thirty-six eyelash stylists responded to the survey (23% response rate). Among the respondents who had respiratory symptoms, hand eczema or eye symptoms previously, about 50%, 20% and 45%, respectively, reported that their symptoms had not changed. More than 80% reported that they had fewer customers than before the pandemic. Three respondents had stopped working as eyelash stylists because their businesses had closed due to COVID-19. About 50% of the respondents reported use of the same personal protection equipment as before the pandemic, whereas 45% reported that their protection was better than previously. Almost 60% reported concerns about getting infected with COVID-19 at work. More than 80% of the respondents were worried about their personal or their business’s finances and about 35% rated their mental health as ‘poor’. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Despite the limited number of respondents, the results indicate that the main impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were worries of getting infected, fewer customers and financial concerns among the eyelash stylists. <h3>Funding/acknowledgements</h3> The study was supported by AFA Insurance. We would like to acknowledge the eyelash stylists who responded to the survey.