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Characterization of Health Literacy in US Aircraft Pilots
Joelle C Ruthig1, William R Hoffman2,3, Michelle J Duffy1
1University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|August 3, 2026
Summary
US pilots
Area of Science:
- Aviation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Health literacy is crucial for navigating healthcare systems and appraising health information.
- Understanding health literacy variations among professional groups like pilots is essential for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess health literacy levels among a sample of US pilots.
- To examine how pilot characteristics influence health literacy across nine dimensions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 1,031 US pilots.
- The Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) was used to measure nine dimensions of health literacy.
Main Results:
- Unpaid civilian pilots aged over 60 reported the highest health literacy.
- Paid civilian pilots aged 25-40 reported the lowest health literacy across all measured dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Exploratory findings suggest potential differences in health literacy based on pilot demographics.
- Early-career civilian pilots may represent a subgroup benefiting from targeted health literacy interventions to improve health outcomes.
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