Department of Dermatology, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
Contact Dermatitis. 2010 May;62(5):289-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2010.01702.x.
To estimate the prevalence of nickel allergy, self-reports are sometimes used in epidemiological studies. Self-reports are practical and may facilitate estimation of prevalence provided that the questions are validated.
To investigate the validity of self-reported nickel allergy.
Three hundred and sixty-nine women, aged 30-40 years, from the general population participated in the study. The participants answered a questionnaire before a clinical examination and patch testing. The two questions being validated were 'Are you sensitive/hypersensitive/allergic to nickel?' and 'Do you get a rash from metal buttons, jewellery or other metal items that come in direct contact with your skin?'
Patch test showed nickel-positive reaction in 30% of the subjects. Self-reported prevalence of nickel allergy as indicated by the two respective questions was 40% and 35%. Positive predictive values for the two questions were 59% (95% CI 50-67) and 60% (95% CI 51-69). History of childhood eczema was over-represented among women with 'false-positive' self-reported nickel allergy (P = 0.008). Self-reported hand eczema or 'high wet exposure' did not influence the validity.
The validity of self-reported nickel allergy is low. The questions regarding nickel allergy overestimate the true prevalence of nickel allergy.
为了估计镍过敏的患病率，在流行病学研究中有时会使用自我报告。自我报告是实用的，并且只要问题得到验证，就可以方便地估计患病率。
调查自我报告的镍过敏的有效性。
369 名年龄在 30-40 岁之间的普通人群中的女性参加了这项研究。参与者在临床检查和斑贴试验之前回答了一份问卷。正在验证的两个问题是：“您对镍敏感/过敏/过敏吗？”和“您是否因金属纽扣、珠宝或其他直接接触皮肤的金属物品而出现皮疹？”
斑贴试验显示 30%的受试者对镍有阳性反应。自我报告的镍过敏患病率分别为 40%和 35%。两个问题的阳性预测值分别为 59%（95%CI 50-67）和 60%（95%CI 51-69）。有“假阳性”自我报告镍过敏史的女性中，儿童期湿疹的发生率过高（P = 0.008）。自我报告的手部湿疹或“高湿暴露”并不影响其有效性。
自我报告的镍过敏的有效性较低。关于镍过敏的问题高估了镍过敏的真实患病率。
