College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021 Nov;94(8):2001-2013. doi: 10.1007/s00420-021-01719-6. Epub 2021 May 29.
Nail salon workers are an underserved population exposed to various occupational hazards. Comprised primarily of women and immigrants, these workers face challenges that further increase their workplace exposures and adverse health outcomes. Though previous studies have noted nail salon workers' exposures, these studies have yet to explore the workers' insights on intervention needs. This study among Michigan nail salon workers addresses this gap.
This qualitative study was informed by the phenomenology methodological framework anchored within critical social theory. Participants were recruited from nail salons in Southeast Michigan to partake in focus groups. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis.
Three focus groups were conducted with 13 participants. Three major categories emerged. The first category, workers' perceived work-related stressors, included six themes: lack of standardized policies, regulations, education/training; disconnect between education/training and real-world practice; inadequate knowledge on exposures and safety protocols; unsafe nail products; customer pressure; and immigrant-related pressures. The second category, health issues perceived to be directly related to workplace exposures, included two themes: symptoms experienced due to contact with nail products and symptoms due to poor ergonomics. The third category, participants' perceived intervention needs, included four themes: continuing education; updates with new products; communication with key stakeholders; and partnership building and resource access.
To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study among U.S. nail salon workers focused in Midwest. In addition to the noted individual and organizational-level interventions, policy level implications are discussed given discrepancies in training and practices across states.
美甲沙龙工人是一个服务不足的人群，他们面临着各种职业危害。这些工人主要由女性和移民组成，他们面临着各种挑战，这些挑战进一步增加了他们在工作场所的暴露和不良健康后果。尽管之前的研究已经注意到美甲沙龙工人的暴露情况，但这些研究尚未探讨工人对干预需求的看法。密歇根州的美甲沙龙工人的这项研究填补了这一空白。
这项定性研究以现象学方法论框架为基础，该框架建立在批判社会理论之上。从密歇根州东南部的美甲沙龙招募参与者参加焦点小组。使用内容分析对采访进行记录、转录和分析。
进行了三次焦点小组讨论，共有 13 名参与者。出现了三个主要类别。第一类是工人感知到的与工作相关的压力源，包括六个主题：缺乏标准化政策、法规、教育/培训；教育/培训与现实实践之间的脱节；对暴露和安全协议的知识不足；不安全的美甲产品；客户压力；以及移民相关压力。第二类是工人认为与工作场所暴露直接相关的健康问题，包括两个主题：因接触美甲产品而出现的症状和因不良人体工程学而出现的症状。第三类是参与者感知到的干预需求，包括四个主题：继续教育；新产品更新；与利益相关者的沟通；以及建立伙伴关系和获取资源。
据我们所知，这是美国美甲沙龙工人的第一项定性研究，重点是中西部地区。除了已经提到的个人和组织层面的干预措施外，还讨论了政策层面的影响，因为各州在培训和实践方面存在差异。
