Vartukapteine S, O'Connell H
Psychological Medicine Service, St. James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8.
Mid West Mental Health Service, Dromin House, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Ir Med J. 2020 Jan 16;113(1):10.
Aims We ascertained the level of psychotropic medication use among drivers from a sample population and examined whether psychiatrists and mental health service users are sufficiently informed about the effects of medications on driving ability and about drug-driving legislation and guidelines in Ireland. Methods This cross-sectional survey included a convenience sample of 50 service users aged 18 and over who presented to the acute psychiatric unit in Portlaoise, Laois-Offaly Mental Health Services (LOMHS) for urgent psychiatric assessment, along with a survey of 37 doctors working with LOMHS. Results Almost half of surveyed service users (46%) reported that they currently drive, with the majority of these (78%) driving most days. Sixty-one percent (61%) of drivers reported taking psychotropic medication, with 64% of these taking more than one medication. Of 17 doctors who returned questionnaires, 8 (47%) reported that driving and medication use is a common concern in their practice, while only 1 (6%) had received training in relation to assessing medical fitness to drive. Overall, 94% (16) of clinicians and 54% of service users (rising to 71% for service users who drive and take medication) expressed a need for more information about this topic. Conclusion In this sample, the majority of mental health service users who drive do so while taking prescribed medications and they are unclear on the implications. Furthermore, there are significant deficits in training for psychiatrists in the area of assessing medical fitness to drive. Therefore, considering the potential serious risks involved, there is a clear need for more information and training about this topic for both clinicians and service users alike.
我们确定了抽样人群中驾驶员使用精神药物的情况，并调查了精神科医生和心理健康服务使用者是否充分了解药物对驾驶能力的影响以及爱尔兰的药物驾驶立法和指南。方法：这项横断面调查包括一个便利样本，其中有50名年龄在18岁及以上的服务使用者，他们前往劳伊斯-奥法利心理健康服务中心（LOMHS）位于波特洛伊斯的急性精神科病房进行紧急精神评估，同时还对37名与LOMHS合作的医生进行了调查。结果：几乎一半（46%）的被调查服务使用者报告称他们目前仍在开车，其中大多数人（78%）几乎每天都开车。61%的驾驶员报告正在服用精神药物，其中64%的人服用不止一种药物。在17名回复问卷的医生中，8名（47%）报告称驾驶和药物使用在他们的临床工作中是一个常见问题，而只有1名（6%）医生接受过关于评估驾驶医学适宜性的培训。总体而言，94%（16名）的临床医生和54%的服务使用者（对于那些开车且服用药物的服务使用者，这一比例上升至71%）表示需要更多关于该主题的信息。结论：在这个样本中，大多数开车的心理健康服务使用者在服用处方药的情况下仍在开车，并且他们不清楚其中的影响。此外,精神科医生在评估驾驶医学适宜性方面的培训存在重大不足。因此，考虑到其中潜在的严重风险，显然临床医生和服务使用者都迫切需要更多关于该主题的信息和培训。
