Activity title | Evidence-Based Aerospace Medicine |
Activity Reference | HFM-ET-173 |
Panel | Human Factors and Medicine |
Security Classification | PUBLIC RELEASE |
Status | Active |
Activity type | ET |
Start date | 2018 |
End date | 2019 |
Keywords | Aerospace, Aviation, EvidenceBased, Medicine, Standards, Waivers |
Background | Military aircrew undergo clinical assessment to determine fitness to fly, as well as ongoing clinical assessment to determine entire continuing fitness to fly. However, the aeromedical standards on which these assessments are based often have roots that are decades old and are not based on evidence; the same is true for waiver determinations. In the last 100 years of aerospace medicine, a tremendous volume of data has been collected that could be used to update aeromedical standards and waivers, but to date no systematic approach has been undertaken to ensure that aeromedical standards and waivers are current and supported by evidence. While there has been work in a handful of specialties (such as cardiology) to bridge this gap, there is a lack of consistency in applying evidence-based aerospace medicine (EBAM) across the aerospace medicine enterprises within NATO nations. |
Objectives | (1) Identify capabilities and resources (data, subject matter experts) from each partner nation that can utilized for EBAM.
(2) Identify specific topics of interest for each partner nation; prioritize topics for the NATO effort.
(3) Deliver written report detailing goals and deliverables for a follow-on RTG.
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Topics | (1) Develop scientific consensus on which aeromedical standards are current and based on evidence, and which standards should be considered for further examination (in a follow-on RTG).
(2) Determine primary drivers of waivers for flying status; identify waivers that should be re-examined.
(3) Identify aeromedical policies that should be examined further. |
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