FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
PUBLICATIONS
AVIATION MEDICINE REPORTS

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-92/15

Title and Subtitle: Survey of Aviation Medical Examiners: Information and Attitudes about the Preemployment and Pre-Appointment Drug Testing Program

Report Date: March 1992

Authors: Myers, J.G.

Abstract: Aviation medical examiners who are designated to collect urine specimens were surveyed to collect information and assess attitudes about different aspects of the pre-employment and pre-appointment drug testing program. Fifty-seven percent of the sample responded to the survey. Respondents were generally positive about the custody and control form, the amount of information received about the collection kits and the drug testing program, and the contacts they had with the agency medical staff. However, only about half reported they had been informed of drug testing program changes.

Accurate completion of custody and control forms and lack of training were cited most often as causal factors in the occurrence of errors in the specimen collection process and few had actually received information on their error rate in specimen collections. Recommendations were, made to 1) review the custody and control form for possible improvements that may reduce errors, 2) restrict the number of AMEs designated to collect specimens, 3) provide training classes, materials, or videotapes especially for newly designated AMEs, and 4) clarify the alcohol and drug abatement program manager's l position prior to making a decision about the organizational location of the manager.

Key Words: Dimensionally, Validity, Perceptions of Organizational, Politics Scale (POPS)

No. of Pages: 42