Flight safety risk assessment of self-medication among fighter pilots: a cross-sectional study

Fighter pilots are a specific population in which any adverse drug reaction can unpredictably interact with aeronautical constraints and thus compromise flight safety. This issue has not been evaluated in risk assessments.

To provide a semi-quantitative assessment of the risk to flight safety of self-medication in fighter pilots.

A cross-sectional survey that aimed at identifying the determinants of self-medication in fighter pilots was conducted. All medications consumed within 8 h preceding a flight were listed. A modified Failure Mode and Effects Analysis was performed, and any adverse drug reaction reported in the French marketing authorization document of a drug was considered a failure mode. The frequency of occurrence and severity were evaluated using specific scales to assign each to three risk criticality categories: acceptable, tolerable, and unacceptable.

Between March and November 2020, the responses of 170 fighter pilots were analyzed, for an overall return rate of approximately 34%. Among them, 78 reported 140 self-medication events within 8 h preceding a flight. Thirty-nine drug trade names (48 different international nonproprietary names) were listed, from which 694 potential adverse drug reactions were identified. The risk criticality was considered unacceptable, tolerable and acceptable for 37, 325 and 332 adverse drug reactions, respectively. Thus, the risk criticality was considered unacceptable, tolerable and acceptable for 17, 17, and 5 drugs, respectively.

This analysis suggests that the overall risk to flight safety of the current practice of self-medication in fighter pilots may be considered at least tolerable, or even unacceptable.