Susceptibility to motion sickness in trainee pilots at the Portuguese Air Force: a cross-sectional study using the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire – Short (MSSQ-Short)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.3246Keywords:
Motion sickness , MSSQ-Short, pilots, susceptibilityAbstract
This study aimed to evaluate susceptibility to motion sickness in pilot trainees at the Portuguese Air Force Academy and to identify individuals at risk for early intervention. This is a cross-sectional observational study with a retrospective analysis of Pilot Selection Stages between 2015 and 2025. A total of 95 student pilots were assessed using the MSSQ-Short, validated for the Portuguese population, and institutional records from 463 candidates were analysed. The majority presented low susceptibility (67.4%), while 32.6% showed moderate or high susceptibility and 28% reported motion sickness during the Pilot Selection Stages In the retrospective analysis, 46.6% were eliminated, with 22% of voluntary withdrawals and 15–16% of unfit candidates presenting symptoms compatible with motion sickness. Individuals with MSSQ≥5 showed a higher risk of motion sickness (OR=4.06; 95% CI: 1.58-10.43). The MSSQ-Short demonstrated usefulness as a screening and risk stratification tool in an aeronautical context.
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