Recruitment strategies for a hand dermatitis prevention programme in the food industry

Background:  An interdisciplinary 'Skin Disease Prevention Programme (SDPP) in the baking, hotel, and catering industries' was established. However, only 30% of the eligible employees suffering from occupational hand dermatitis (OHD) participated in the programme.
Objectives:  The aim of the present study was to increase the participation rate in the SDPP from 30% to 50% by specific recruitment strategies.
Patients/Methods:  Two hundred and twenty five baker and catering trade employees suffering from OHD were included in a prospective controlled intervention study. The employees were invited to take part in the SDPP using (i) a standard invitation letter ( n  = 40), (ii) a newly developed, personalized, and targeted invitation letter ( n  = 52), (iii) the new invitation letter and a case report ( n  = 75), and (iv) the new invitation letter, the case report, and the additional information ( n  = 58).
Results:  The commitment of the employees to join the SDPP increased significantly from 30% to 54% ( P  < 0.02) in the group receiving the new personalized targeted invitation letter. Neither the additional case report nor the supplementation with additional information concerning the SDPP did further increase the recruitment.
Conclusions:  The strategy to personalize and target the new invitation letter was successful to influence the employees' commitment to participate in the SDPP.