Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of geriatricians regarding patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous automobile drivers: a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine geriatrician knowledge regarding how to prevent a patient with dementia who is a potentially dangerous driver from driving and to determine their willingness to recommend license revocation against the wishes of both the patient and the patient's family. Included is a comparison of responses from geriatricians in California, where related legislation has existed for a decade, with responses from geriatricians from all other US states combined.


METHODS
Survey sample.


METHODS
Geriatric practices.


METHODS
Probability sample of 467 geriatricians.


METHODS
Survey responses.


RESULTS
More than 28% of all geriatricians (95% CI, 24.3%-32.7%) do not know how to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers. A 22% difference (95% CI, 13.9%-30.8%) exists between California geriatricians and those in all other US states. More than 75% (95%, CI, 71.5%-79.5%) of all geriatricians agreed that physicians are responsible for reporting patients. More than 86% (95% CI, 83.2%-89.6%) of all geriatricians would contact state authorities despite the objections of the patient, and 72.9% (95% CI, 68.7%-77.1%) would contact authorities despite the objections of the patient's family.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most geriatricians will act to protect the public from patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers, many do not know how to report these drivers. Legislation can improve a physician's ability to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers.
Cable
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G
Jersey City Medical Center, New Jersey, USA.
Reisner
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M
Gerges
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S
Thirumavalavan
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V
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002140:California; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D017007:Duty to Warn; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States