PALMAR HYPERHIDROSIS AND ITS EFFECT ON OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Background: Hyperhidrosis, meaning excessive sweating, can be described as perspiration in excess of the physiologic amount necessary to maintain the thermal homeostasis. It is thought to be the result of eccrine sweat glands by the cholinergic sympathetic ibers which innervate them. Many of medical professionals such as physiotherapists, dentists, and nurses, may suffer from palmar hyperhidrosis, due to which their clinical efficacy may get affected to some considerable extent. Their efficacy of treating the patients manually, handling tools, injecting needles, dressing wounds, and grasping the surgical instruments, are all hampered due to excessive sweating. The main goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of palmar hyperhidrosis affecting the clinical efficacy of medical professionals. The objective was to assess the extent of palmar hyperhidrosis affecting clinical efficacy. Method: A total of forty (40) medical professionals with palmar hyperhidrosis voluntarily participated in the study. The clinical efficacy was assessed by using hyperhidrosis questionnaire. Results: Based on the statistical analysis, among the total population taken, the prevalence of palmar hyperhidrosis affecting clinical efficacy in medical professionals was considered extremely signi icant (p<0.0001). Overall, 45.56% of the clinical efficacy was seen to be reduced or affected due to palmar hyperhidrosis. Conclusion: The overall study indicates that the clinical efficacy of medical professionals due to palmar hyperhidrosis is reduced to a considerable extent in the age group of 20-30 years. Also, the quality of life of the subjects was found to be reduced signi icantly. Hence, the prevalence of palmar hyperhidrosis affecting clinical efficacy in medical professionals is significant