Promoting driving safety for teens and adults.
Traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability, accounting for significant numbers of brain injuries. The purpose of this article is to discuss those conditions that can affect driver safety. The role of the nurse practitioner in primary prevention involves assessing the health status of drivers, including risk-taking behavior, age-related factors, use of alcohol and medications, and chronic illnesses and physical conditions that can result in driver impairment. Interventions can include patient education, anticipatory guidance, role-playing, referral for skill-building or driver evaluation, and reporting potentially unsafe drivers in keeping with state guidelines. Practitioner involvement in grass-roots community groups is encouraged.
Wilson
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Westside Neighborhood Clinic, Long Beach, Calif.
Molloy-Martinez
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D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic