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Comparison between self-reported symptoms and GP records in the aftermath of an airplane disaster.

Donker, G.A., IJzermans, C.J. Comparison between self-reported symptoms and GP records in the aftermath of an airplane disaster. European Journal of Public Health: 2002, 12(4 suppl.), p. 52. Abstract. 10th Annual Eupha Meeting 'Bridging the gap between research and policy in public health: information, promotion and training' in Dresden, Germany 28 - 30 November 2002.
Background: On October 4th, 1992, an El Al Boeing 747-F cargo crashed on two apartment buildings in Amsterdam. Thirty nine residents on the ground and the four crew members of the plane died. In the years after more and more people, attributed physical signs and symptoms to their presence at the disaster scene. Aim: To investigate the consistency between patient's symptoms attributed to the crash, and GP's diagnoses and perception of the association with the crash. Method: Comparison between self-reported symptoms to a call centre six years after the disaster and GPs' medical records on onset and type of symptoms, diagnoses and GPs' perception of association with the disaster assessed by questionnaire. Results: The 553 respondents reported on average 4.3 complaints to the call centre. The majority of these symptoms (74%) was reported to the GP. Of the top ten of symptoms fatigue, skin complaints, feeling anxious or nervous, dyspnea and backache were in 80% reported to the GP. One out of four symptoms were either reported to the GP before the disaster took place, or six or more years after ('98/'99, at the time of a lot of media attention). Depression (7%), PTSD (5%) and eczema (5%) were most frequently diagnosed by GPs. GPs attributed 6% of all reported symptoms to the disaster. Conclusions: Most of the symptoms attributed to a disaster by patients have been reported to their GP. GP's related only a small proportion of these to the disaster. (aut. ref.)