Health Care Avoidance Among Canadian Pilots Due to Fear of Medical Certificate Loss

Abstract

Objective Canadian pilots may avoid health care and report inaccurate medical information due to fear of medical invalidation. We sought to determine if health care avoidance due to fear of certificate loss exists. Methods We conducted an anonymous 24-item Internet survey of 1405 Canadian pilots between March and May 2021. Responses were collected using REDCap, and the survey was advertised through aviation magazines and social media groups. Results Seventy-two percent of respondents (n = 1007) have felt worried about seeking medical care because it may impact their career or hobby. Respondents participated in various health care avoidance behaviors with the most common being having actually avoided or delayed medical care for a symptom (46%, n = 647). Conclusion Canadian pilots fear medical invalidation and consequently, avoid health care. This may be severely impacting aeromedical screening effectiveness.