Healthcare avoidance behavior; U.S. military pilots
Self-reported health care avoidance behavior in U.S. military pilots related to fear for loss of flying status
Citation: Hoffman, W. R., Aden, J. K., Barbera, D., & Tvaryanas, A. (2023). Self-reported health care avoidance behavior in U.S. military pilots related to fear for loss of flying status. Military Medicine, 188(3-4), e446–e450.
This study explored how U.S. military pilots report avoiding or delaying medical care because they fear losing their flying status. In an Internet survey with 264 military pilots responding, 72% reported engaging in at least one healthcare avoidance behaviour (such as seeking informal medical advice, flying despite new symptoms they believed required evaluation, withholding information on medical questionnaires, or using medications without disclosure). The authors note that these behaviours may undermine pilot health and aviation safety, and they highlight the need to understand and address unique cultural and occupational factors within military aviation that discourage pilots from seeking care.
