Utilization of a specialized clinic following an ecological accident.
On August 23, 1988, a fire broke out in a warehouse storing PCBs, forcing the evacuation of 5,500 citizens. Three days later, a specialized clinic was opened to examine and reassure the population. Seventy percent of the evacuated people showed up at the clinic. The aim of this case-control study was to identify the determinants of utilization of this clinic among the evacuated population. Cases and controls were sampled from the cohort of the evacuated adults. Both cases and controls were randomly selected among those who consulted and those who did not consult at the clinic. A logistic regression identified nine predictors of utilization: age, family type of household, annual income less than $40,000, objective and perceived exposure to the toxic smoke, reaction to the risk, perceived scale of the evacuation, number of moves during the evacuation period and consultation elsewhere with a physician. Results showed that the fear resulting from exposure created a stronger motive to consult the clinic than physical symptoms and needs.
Aubin
J
J
Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Santé, Université de Montréal, Canada.
Potvin
L
L
Béland
F
F
Pineault
R
R
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004190:Disasters; D004463:Ecology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005390:Fires / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls