Retraining visual processing skills to improve driving ability after stroke.

UNLABELLED

Crotty M, George S. Retraining visual processing skills to improve driving ability after stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of retraining using the Dynavision on driving performance of people with stroke.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

People with stroke (N=26) referred for driving assessment.

INTERVENTIONS

Eligible participants were randomized to either receive retraining with the Dynavision apparatus for 18 sessions or to receive no intervention and go onto a waitlist.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was an assessment of on-road ability. Secondary outcomes included measures of response speed, visual scanning, and self-efficacy. All assessments were conducted by assessors blinded to group assignment.

RESULTS

No significant difference (P=.223) was found between the intervention and control groups in results of on-road assessment in terms of pass or fail; the primary outcome measure; or the results on the secondary outcome measures of response speed, visual scanning, and self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small trial, training underlying skills (such as executing a continuous wide scan, combining motor and visual processing into a motor response) using the Dynavision apparatus did not improve the outcomes of an on-road assessment for people after strokes. Larger trials are needed to evaluate devices that claim to retrain underlying skills related to driving.