Health Perception Among Pilots: Unexpected Findings Regarding Health Literacy

Health literacy plays a critical role in ensuring aviation safety by influencing pilots’ ability to make informed health-related decisions. This study aimed to examine the impact of a mandatory theoretical course, Human Performance, on the health literacy levels of pilots who are enrolled in a university's pilotage program. The academic and practical importance of this study lies in understanding how aviation training content relates to pilots’ perception and understanding of health-related knowledge. A single-group pretest–posttest design was used, with 19 licensed pilots assessed before and after completing the course. Contrary to expectations, the results revealed a significant decrease in overall health literacy scores, particularly in the dimensions of understanding and using/applying health-related information. These findings suggest that the course content may have increased pilots’ awareness of the complexity of health-related matters in aviation and revealed gaps in their prior knowledge, leading them to approach such information with greater caution.