The Ecology of Medical Care Among Israeli Military Aviators.
BACKGROUND
The ecology of medical care model has been used in various populations with varying results. We aimed to apply this model in the population of Israeli Air Force (IAF) aviators.


METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire was presented to all Israeli Air Force aviators during their mandatory yearly check-up over 1 yr starting on November 26th, 2012. The questionnaire contained items on demographic, personal, and military details, as well as items on the presence of clinical symptoms, and various health care contacts in the previous month. We assessed the differences between career and reserve personnel using a X2 test.


RESULTS
There were 325 aviators who completed the questionnaire (2 women, 132 reserves). Clinical symptoms were reported by 62.5% of the responders. Over half (52.6%) had any health care encounter: 23.7% with a dentist, 17.9% with non-MD therapists, 12.6% with a specialist, and 11.7% with a primary physician. A significant difference between reserve and career personnel was found only in primary care visits. Out of the aviators who reported having clinical symptoms, 70.9% did not visit a physician. Of those who did not seek medical care, 42.4% reported that the symptoms were viewed as unimportant, 41% thought they would disappear by themselves, 40.3% could not find time for treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Aviators in the IAF have similar rate of clinical symptoms as in other unselected populations. Those who report symptoms usually do not visit a physician for treatment. When they do seek advice it is mostly from non-MD practitioners.Gordon B, Levy Y, Yemini T, Carmon E, Erlich Y, Hermoni D. The ecology of medical care among Israeli military aviators. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(12):1036-1040.
Medical Corps, Israeli Defense Forces, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Barak
B
Gordon
Yuval
Y
Levy
Tal
T
Yemini
Erez
E
Carmon
Yifat
Y
Erlich
Doron
D
Hermoni
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000070356:Pilots / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs