Predictors of on-road driver performance following traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE

To examine assessment outcomes and factors associated with passing an occupational therapy (OT) on-road driver assessment after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of outcomes of on-road driver assessment completed by persons with TBI over an 8-year period.

SETTING

Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A consecutive sample of individuals (N=207) with mild to severe TBI who completed an on-road driver assessment and were assessed at least 3 months postinjury.

INTERVENTION

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Outcome of on-road driver assessment.

RESULTS

Of the drivers with TBI, 66% (n=137) passed the initial on-road driver assessment (pass group), whereas 34% (n=70) required on-road driver rehabilitation and/or ≥1 on-road assessment (rehabilitation group). After driver rehabilitation, only 3 participants of the group did not resume driving. Participants who were men, had shorter posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) duration, had no physical and/or visual impairment, and had faster reaction times were significantly more likely to be in the pass group. In combination, these variables correctly classified 87.6% of the pass group and 71.2% of the rehabilitation group.

CONCLUSIONS

PTA duration proved to be a better predictor of driver assessment outcome than Glasgow Coma Scale score. In combination with the presence of physical/visual impairment and slowed reaction times, PTA could assist clinicians to determine referral criteria for OT driver assessment. On-road driver rehabilitation followed by on-road reassessment were associated with a high probability of return to driving after TBI.