TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal comparative study of the physical and mental health problems of affected residents of the firework disaster Enschede, The Netherlands
AU - Grievink, L.
AU - van der Velden, P. G.
AU - Stellato, R. K.
AU - Dusseldorp, A.
AU - Gersons, B. P.R.
AU - Kleber, R. J.
AU - Lebret, E.
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Objectives: After the firework disaster in Enschede, The Netherlands, on 13 May 2000, a longitudinal health study was carried out. Study questions were: (1) did the health status change over this period; and (2) how is the health status 18 months after the disaster compared with controls? Study design: A longitudinal comparative study with two surveys at 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Methods: A control group for the affected residents was included in the second survey. Respondents filled in a set of validated questionnaires measuring their physical and mental health problems. Results: The prevalence of physical and emotional role limitations, severe sleeping problems, feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as intrusion and avoidance decreased from 3 weeks to 18 months after the disaster for the affected residents. Independent of background characteristics and other life events, residents had 1.5 to three times more health problems than the control group; for example, physical role limitations (odds ratio [OR]=1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.0) and anxiety (OR=3.1, 95% CI 2.4-4.2). Conclusions: Although health problems decreased compared with 3 weeks after the disaster, 18 months after the disaster, the affected residents had more health problems than the people from the control group.
AB - Objectives: After the firework disaster in Enschede, The Netherlands, on 13 May 2000, a longitudinal health study was carried out. Study questions were: (1) did the health status change over this period; and (2) how is the health status 18 months after the disaster compared with controls? Study design: A longitudinal comparative study with two surveys at 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Methods: A control group for the affected residents was included in the second survey. Respondents filled in a set of validated questionnaires measuring their physical and mental health problems. Results: The prevalence of physical and emotional role limitations, severe sleeping problems, feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as intrusion and avoidance decreased from 3 weeks to 18 months after the disaster for the affected residents. Independent of background characteristics and other life events, residents had 1.5 to three times more health problems than the control group; for example, physical role limitations (odds ratio [OR]=1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.0) and anxiety (OR=3.1, 95% CI 2.4-4.2). Conclusions: Although health problems decreased compared with 3 weeks after the disaster, 18 months after the disaster, the affected residents had more health problems than the people from the control group.
KW - Comparison group
KW - Disaster
KW - Health status
KW - Longitudinal
KW - Residents
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33947517780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.09.025
DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.09.025
M3 - Article
C2 - 17320920
AN - SCOPUS:33947517780
SN - 0033-3506
VL - 121
SP - 367
EP - 374
JO - Public Health
JF - Public Health
IS - 5
ER -