Physical and Mental Health of Disaster Victims: A Comparative Study on Typhoon and Oil Spill Disasters / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and mental health status of disaster victims according to disaster types, such as a typhoon disaster and an oil spill disaster, and to suggest adequate health care services for them. METHODS: A total of 484 people who suffered disasters were selected for this study, and data were collected from July to August, 2008. The data-set for this study included 286 victims of typhoon disasters in Jeju and Jeollanamdo district in South Korea, and 198 victims of the oil spill disaster in Taean. Physical health status was measured using revised Patient Health Questionnaire and mental health status was measured using the Korean version of 'Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale'. RESULTS: According to the comparative analyses of typhoon disaster victims and oil spill disaster victims, poorer physical health outcomes were shown among the oil spill disaster victims when compared to the typhoon disaster victims. Also, the oil spill disaster victims showed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, at rates higher than those found among the typhoon disaster victims. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there is a need to provide adequate physical and mental health-related care services for oil spill disaster victims. The seriousness of oil spill disaster should be realized and reconsidered in developing recovery strategies and disaster preparedness for physical and mental health services.

The Distinction of Cleanup Works of Hebei Spirit Oil Spill in Peak Expiratory Flow between Pre-works and Post-works / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: There were debates on the relationship between peak expiratory flow (PEF) and oil spill cleanup activity. The aim of this study was to compare the distinction of PEF among pre-works and post-works in Hebei Spirit oil. METHODS: The study subjects were participators of cleanup works. The questionaire on symptoms was done. And PEF was measured. The subjects were sampled on random basis. We then used a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of cleanup works on PEF. RESULTS: Only 66 (35.3%) participants versus 121 showed with low values in PEF before cleanup works. But, 78 (80.1%) participants versus 20 significantly showed with low values in PEF after cleanup works (P = 0.002). On our analysis, measuring their own PEF after cleanup works (Odds ratio [OR], 2.328; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.218 to 6.624), female gender (OR, 5.841; 95% CI, 3.571 to 9.557), the number of working days on cleanup activities (OR, 2.760; 95% CI, 1.364 to 7.900), and residents (OR, 4.610; 95% CI, 2.488 to 8.544) were shown to be significant risk factors for low value of peak expiratory flow. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that exposure to petroleum in cleanup works are associated with a significant low value in PEF. But, the heterogeneity of pre-works and post-works groups is a limitation of the study.