[EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND DAILY FUNCTIONS, ROAD SIGN RECOGNITION AND DRIVING SELF-REPORT AMONG HEALTHY AND POST-STROKE DRIVERS].

INTRODUCTION

Driving is an essential part of occupational performance. In determining potential driving competence, there is a lack of screening tools to ascertain who should be referred for further assessment in Occupational Therapy or at the Medical Institute for Road Safety.

AIMS

To assess the relationship between executive-function, daily-functions and driving behavior measures in unimpaired and neurologically impaired populations.

BACKGROUND

Although the research findings were not statistically significant, the trend points to the correlation between executive-function measures and self-report driving ability. Road sign recognition tests and daily-functions were found to be potential screening tools for assessing driving potential, but a larger sample size is recommended to confirm results.

METHODS

An exploratory study that included 19 subjects - 10 without neurological impairments - and 9 post-stroke. Self-report questionnaires on driving ability, executive-functions and daily-function were administered. Post-stroke subjects were also assessed on road sign recognition.

RESULTS

The research hypothesis was not confirmed. Three moderately correlated but statistically insignificant correlations were found: in unimpaired subjects between the driving self-report and functional status; in post-stroke subjects - between the driving self-report and self-monitoring and behavioral-regulation skills and in the road sign recognition tests - between executive and daily-function measures.

CONCLUSIONS

If the trends were strengthened in a larger sample size the use of driving behavior self-report questionnaires, executive-function, daily-function and road sign recognition tests as screening tools for the unimpaired and post-stroke populations would be effective/recommended.

DISCUSSION

Present findings of correlations between self-report of driving skills and behavioral regulation skills confirm previous research findings.