Citation | Study group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcome | Key results | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bunney (1972) | 68 matched pairs of swimmers. One of the pair wore “Plastsocks” and the other bare feet (control group) | Paired (level 2b) | Incidence of new plantar warts in the “Plastsocks” group versus the control group | During the study period the sock group was entirely free from plantar warts, while the control group developed 9 new plantar warts (p<0.01) | The study did not look at the effectiveness of “Plastsocks” in preventing the transmission of infection |
Johnson (1995) | 146 adolescents aged 10–18 who used locker rooms | Comparison of 80 pupils who only used locker rooms, with 66 members of a swim club who used locker rooms plus communal showers (level 4) | Incidence of plantar warts | Significant difference in prevalence between those who used public shower rooms and locker rooms (27%) compared to those who used only locker rooms (1.25%) (χ2=15.46, df=1, p=0.001) | Shower rooms proposed as a risk factor, with the warm, moist environment important for viral transmission. Author states that he is conducting a follow up study to determine whether the incidence of plantar warts among shower room users (swimmers) can be reduced by limiting foot-to-floor contact, but subsequent paper not found in search |
Allen (1968) | 14075 pupils from 40 primary and secondary schools | Random sample of 40 schools in Hertfordshire (level 4) | Prevalence of plantar warts | Prevalence of 2.9% for secondary schools and 1.8% for primary schools | Prevalence appeared greater in those using heated covered pools (4.02%), compared to those using pools, which were not covered and heated either at school (2.91%) or public pools (2.10%). Authors concluded that difference may be due to differing periods of exposure. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups that did gymnastics in barefoot compared to plimsolls |
Tranter (1969) | Pupils from 6 junior schools | Junior schools chosen at random (level 4) | Incidence of plantar warts and the amount of swimming undertaken | Correlation coefficient was calculated giving a significant positive value at the 5% level suggesting a positive relationship between the amount of swimming and the incidence of warts Correlation coefficient showed no relation between the amount of barefoot physical exercise and the incidence of plantar warts | Evidence suggested that if a school has its own pool, used only by its pupils and if they were examined twice/term and children with plantar warts excluded the incidence of warts will decline. If the school uses a communal pool the incidence will not decline |
Gentles (1973) | 773 bathers at a public swimming bath | Random sample: 9.3% of bathers (level 2c) | Incidence of verrucas | Overall incidence of verrucas was 4.8%, with 0.76% in adults, 6.9% in juveniles. Incidence of 10.2% during school swimming sessions and 5.1% during public swimming sessions (p<0.05) | The incidence of veruccas was noted to be higher than previously recorded. Authors conclude swimming baths are involved in the “vicious circle” of infection and floor contamination |