Driving skills in elderly persons with stroke: comparison of two new assessment options.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of two methods of assessing off-road driving skills that claim to predict on-road driving fitness of persons with stroke.


METHODS
Fifty-six persons with stroke (age 44 to 82 yrs; mean, 60.2 yrs) completed the 2 off-road driving assessments along with standard clinical and on-road driving tests.


METHODS
Linear stepwise regression on 4 variables of the Dynavision Performance Assessment Battery (DPAB), the Cognitive Behavioral Driver's Inventory (CBDI) variable (composite score), and the variables of age, gender, and lesion side.


RESULTS
A 4-minute endurance subtest from the DPAB was superior to the CBDI in predicting success/failure in the on-road driving test (75%). However, success on both the 4-minute endurance subtest from the DPAB and the CBDI tests significantly improved the prediction of on-road success. If participants passed the CBDI and the endurance test from the DPAB, they also passed the on-road assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Driving fitness of elderly persons with stroke can be assessed with reasonable accuracy using off-road tests, minimizing the expense and risk associated with on-road assessments in this population.
Klavora
P
P
Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Heslegrave
R J
RJ
Young
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*