After the Bijlmermeer aviation disaster on October 4th 1992, there was growing concern about the health of the residents and rescue workers exposed to the disaster. Persisting rumours about the... Show moreAfter the Bijlmermeer aviation disaster on October 4th 1992, there was growing concern about the health of the residents and rescue workers exposed to the disaster. Persisting rumours about the cause of the crash, toxic exposure and health consequences led more than eight years later to the Medical Investigation Bijlmermeer Aviation Disaster (Dutch acronym: MOVB). The MOVB consisted of an epidemiological investigation to assess the relationship between health complaints and exposure to the disaster and an individual medical examination for all individuals who considered themselves to be suffering from the consequences of the disaster. This thesis describes the results of the effects of participation in both studies. Overall, participation in the MOVB has had a negative effect on residents and rescue workers: after the investigation they became more worried about their health and more sensitive for complaints. Several factors seem important in explaining this adverse effect: whether or not they consulted a physician to discuss the results of the examination, the way in which communication of the results of the epidemiological study took place, the timing of this investigation more than eight years after the aviation disaster, and individual differences and vulnerabilities among the participants. Show less
