European Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 20, Issue 10, 2005, Pages 839-847

Determinants of response in a longitudinal health study following the firework-disaster in Enschede, The Netherlands (Article)

Dijkema M.B.A. , Grievink L.* , Stellato R.K. , Roorda J. , Van Der Velden P.G.
  • a Centre for Environmental Health Research (MGO) (Pb 10), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720, Bilthoven, BA, Netherlands, Regional Health Authority Amstelland - de Meerlanden, Amstelveen, Netherlands
  • b Centre for Environmental Health Research (MGO) (Pb 10), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720, Bilthoven, BA, Netherlands, Rivm, MGo(pb10), PoBox 1, 3720 3A Bilthoven, Netherlands
  • c Centre for Environmental Health Research (MGO) (Pb 10), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720, Bilthoven, BA, Netherlands
  • d Regional Health Authority Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
  • e Institute for Psychotrauma (IvP), Zaltbommel, Netherlands

Abstract

Very few longitudinal health studies after disasters published data on the determinants of loss to follow up. However, these determinants provide important information for future disaster studies to improve their response and reduce selection bias. For this purpose we analyzed the data of a longitudinal health survey which was performed among residents and emergency workers, at 3 weeks (n = 3662) and at 18 months (n = 2769) after a major firework disaster in The Netherlands (Enschede, May 13, 2000). The response was lower among immigrants (54%) than among native Dutch (81%). Severe damage to the house due to the disaster (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1-3.0) and being involved as an emergency workers (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.4) were associated with higher response among native Dutch, while this was not the case among immigrants. Non-western immigrants with health problems in the first study were more likely to participate in the second study (for example physical symptoms OR: 2.5: 95% CI: 1.4-4.4), while the native Dutch with these symptoms were less likely to participate (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9). In conclusion, disaster-related characteristics were associated with higher response in native Dutch. Health problems were associated with higher response among non-western immigrants and with lower response among the native Dutch. © Springer 2005.

Author Keywords

Determinants Longitudinal studies Attrition disasters Public health

Index Keywords

Netherlands immigrant longitudinal study health care personnel follow up human Longitudinal Studies risk assessment middle aged Odds Ratio Survivors controlled study health status Aged Epidemiologic Methods disaster Fires Explosions resident Accidents Confidence interval Humans Adolescent male female Disasters questionnaire population research prevalence Article Questionnaires adult emergency health service disaster planning Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic data analysis Emigration and Immigration disease association health hazard
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-27744489077&doi=10.1007%2fs10654-005-2149-6&partnerID=40&md5=1743f26bec9c2aa91001d8069191afe2
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-005-2149-6
ISSN: 03932990
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English