An Investigation of the Impact of Using Latex and Nitrile Gloves on Hand Dexterity

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of using latex and nitrile examination gloves on hand dexterity. A sample consisting of 30 university students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences participated in this study in 2013. The participants conducted Purdue pegboard test in three experimental conditions: bare hand (control), with latex gloves and with nitrile gloves. Both gross and fine finger dexterity tests were calculated and result of analysis showed that the differences between three groups of experimental condition from level of gross to fine finger dexterity was statistically significant (P=0.021, P=0.025). Levels of both gross and fine finger dexterity with latex gloves were significantly different from the nitrile gloves (P=0.021, P=0.009) and levels of both gross and levels of both gross and fine finger dexterity with latex gloves was slightly significant different comparison to bare hand (P=0.023, P=0.019). Use of latex gloves could slightly improve dexterity; however, this effect was not observed while using nitrile gloves. The present study confirmed nitrile gloves as an alternative for latex gloves without loss of dexterity in large and small hand movements.