[Continued driving habits of patients diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness].
OBJECTIVE
Description of driving behaviour of patients with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and the influence on their driving of diagnosis, therapy, legal guidelines and advices.


METHODS
Inventory based on questionnaires.


METHODS
Centre for Sleep and Wake Disorders, The Hague, the Netherlands.


METHODS
All patients with EDS who were in a stable condition for at least 6 months after therapy were sent a questionnaire (n = 138). The questions concerned actual driving behaviour, EDS and the effects of diagnosis, therapy and advice given by the Centre.


RESULTS
The response was 67% (n = 92). Eighteen patients had never driven a car. Eighteen of the other 74 patients quit driving or drove less. Fifty-six patients did not change their behaviour or drove even more. There was little effect on driving behaviour of diagnosis, therapy and advice to stop driving.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with EDS often participate as drivers in modern traffic. Legal guidelines and advice given by physicians have only little influence on this behaviour. As general measures seem to be ineffective, approaches tailored to the individual patient may lead to more acceptable results.
de Weerd
A W
AW
Westeinde Ziekenhuis, Centrum voor Slaap- en Waakstoornissen, Den Haag.
Kamphuisen
H A
HA
Schimsheimer
R J
RJ
Kemp
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012940:Social Problems / Q000517:prevention & control*
Persisterende deelname aan het snelverkeer van patiënten met excessieve slaperigheid overdag.