Retrospective analysis of factors that affect driving assessment outcomes after stroke.

INTRODUCTION

More than 50% of people do not resume driving post-stroke. Potential disincentives include limited knowledge about assessment, access to services, cost and fear of failure. Factors contributing to a successful return to driving have been the focus of limited research.

AIM

To determine the proportion of people with stroke who successfully pass their first on-road occupational therapy driving assessment, and factors associated with a successful assessment outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was used. The primary data collection method was a review of 441 consecutive occupational therapy driving assessment reports from one Australian metropolitan centre. Participants had a diagnosis of stroke, a driving licence pre-stroke and completed a driving assessment between 1999 and 2010.

RESULTS

Of the 441 records analysed, the mean age of drivers was 65.4 years (SD: 15.4). The majority (53.7%) passed their first assessment (pass/conditional pass); only 8.8% failed. A weak relationship was found between initial driving assessment outcome and time post-stroke (r(s)  = 0.19), but a fair relationship with younger age (r(s)  = 0.31) and higher scores on three off-road assessments (r(s)  = -0.26 to -0.28). The strongest predictors of initial driving assessment outcome were off-road assessment scores, age, gender and time post-stroke (R(2)  = 19.7%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Data on stroke severity are required to confirm these preliminary predictors of driving assessment outcome. Stroke severity should be routinely documented by driving assessment services for use in future research.