Serious on-the-track accidents experienced by train drivers: psychological reactions and long-term health effects.
Train drivers run a risk of on-the-track accidents, the outcome of which they can seldom influence. In a postal questionnaire study addressed to all Norwegian train drivers, present health status was assessed by GHQ-12 and three health indices calculated from a psychosomatic symptom list. Train drivers who had experienced distressing on-the-track incidents were asked to report peak intensity of psychological reactions to their most distressing experience, by the Impact of Event Scale (IES). Of 830 respondents, 395 reported distressing on-the-track incidents. Present health status was significantly lower in drivers reporting a former distressing experience compared to others. The higher the recalled IES-scores, the more pronounced health problems were reported. This relationship was most marked for musculoskeletal and psychological symptoms related to the IES Intrusion subscore. A possible causal relationship between traumatic on-the-track experiences and long-term health problems in train drivers is postulated.
Vatshelle
A
A
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway.
Moen
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BE
D000059:Accidents / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011890:Railroads; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors