<![CDATA[Background: Dermatitis is an occupational skin disease that may affect fishers due to repeated exposure to seawater, sunlight, and biological agents during daily activities. Preventive practices, adequate knowledge, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) use are important for protecting skin health in coastal working environments. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study employed a cross-sectional design involving 62 fishers selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire that had undergone validity and reliability testing. Univariate analysis was used to describe the study variables, while bivariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). Results: The findings showed that 64.52% of respondents demonstrated good dermatitis-prevention practices, 79.03% had good knowledge, and 90.32% reported appropriate PPE use. Bivariate analysis revealed significant relationships between knowledge and dermatitis prevention (p = 0.004) and between PPE use and dermatitis prevention (p = 0.001). Both variables were statistically associated with dermatitis-prevention practices among the participating fishers. Conclusion: Knowledge and PPE use were significantly associated with dermatitis-prevention practices among fishers in the coastal area of Lhokseumawe. These findings highlight the importance of continuous health education, regular occupational health counseling, and consistent PPE use to support skin-health protection in coastal communities. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than evidence of cause and effect. Targeted health-promotion interventions may help strengthen preventive practices among fishers.]]>
