Driving with a chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a review of patients' perspectives.

OBJECTIVE

To document troublesome driving tasks and any changes in driving behavior reported by people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WADs).

DESIGN

Descriptive study; semistructured interview.

SETTING

Tertiary institution.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (N=33) with chronic WAD.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale for neck pain at rest and while driving, exposure section of the Driving Habit Questionnaire, self-rating perceived current driving ability, semistructured interview about presenting symptoms, troublesome driving tasks, and perceived changes in driving behavior after a whiplash injury.

RESULTS

Subjects (24 of 33; 73%) reported a decrease in driving ability, rating an average of 6.7±2.2 on an 11-point scale (0, unable to drive; 10, driving at preinjury level). These subjects scored higher on the NDI (41.8%±18.4%), experienced greater neck pain at rest (4.3±2.1/10) and while driving (5.7±2.1/10), and reported decreased concentration more frequently than those who rated their driving ability at a preinjury level (ie, 10). The most frequently nominated troublesome driving tasks were checking blind spots, prolonged driving, and reversing/reverse parking, and the most frequently cited changes in driving behavior included more use of trunk rotation (75%), altered steering wheel grip (63%), more anxious/nervous while driving (54%), and more cautious driving (50%).

CONCLUSIONS

The chronic whiplash population appears to have unique troublesome driving tasks (eg, prolonged driving, checking blind spots) that are not readily detected in currently available driving ability/difficulty scales, suggesting that a new scale may be required for this population.