Evaluation of the 2002 Campaign to Distribute Stable Iodine Tablets to Residents Living Near the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant, February 2003

Since 1992, French law has required the preventive distribution of stable iodine tablets in areas defined by specific emergency response plans (PPI) around nuclear power plants. Preventive intake of stable iodine saturates the thyroid gland, thereby preventing or limiting the subsequent uptake of radioactive iodine. In June 2000, an iodine distribution campaign was organized within a 10-km radius of the Gravelines nuclear power plant. After evaluating the results of this campaign, coverage was deemed insufficient. The DDASS and the DRIRE then proposed organizing an additional distribution of tablets in 2002, delivered directly to homes. The evaluation of this second distribution aimed to estimate the coverage of iodine tablets among the population living and working in the area and to assess the level of awareness. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted via telephone survey. The surveyed population consisted, on the one hand, of residents and, on the other hand, of public and private companies in the 14 municipalities of the area. Samples of the various populations were selected using systematic or simple random sampling from various lists (telephone directory, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Regional Education Office, DRASS). All town halls, pharmacies, and government agencies were included. Data collection was conducted from February 3 to March 9, 2002, by two interviewers using standardized questionnaires for each population group. The data were analyzed using Epi Info and SPSS software. Results: Coverage of the 2002 campaign was 84.7% (95% CI [79.4–88.9]) in the general population (compared to 54.1% (95% CI [48.8–59.4]) in 2000); 91.4% (95% CI [84.5–95.6]) in companies and businesses (compared to 46.8% (95% CI [40.1–53.6]) in 2000); 100% in schools (compared to 85.9% in 2000). Given that a portion of the population that was not visited by distributors in 2002 (and therefore did not receive tablets in 2002) still had valid tablets from the 2000 campaign, overall coverage in 2003 was estimated at: 92.6% (95% CI [88.3–95.4]) in the general population; 96.6% (95% CI [91.0–99.0]) in companies and businesses; 96.2% (95% CI [78.4–99.8]) in medical and social care facilities. In 2002, 73% of respondents said they would go to a pharmacy to obtain additional information about the tablets (compared to 54.2% in 2000). 81.9% of respondents said they were well informed (compared to 53.9% in 2000). In conclusion, the coverage of the 2002 campaign (across different populations) was higher than that of the 2000 campaign. Direct door-to-door distribution of iodine tablets (2002) resulted in better coverage than the distribution of vouchers for picking up tablets at pharmacies (2000). The general public’s level of knowledge about stable iodine tablets remains low.

Author(s): Ndiaye B, Heyman C, Ilef D, Helynck B, Pirard P, Samiez P, Bastien G, Lefort M, Sgard C, Guglielmini P, Philippon A, Fiems JJ, Martin P, Delalonde JC, Ragazzo R, Nappi M, Thellier Y

Publishing year: 2004

Pages: 50 p.

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