The validity of a road test after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the validity of a road test performed by stroke patients in Belgium and to reestablish its reliability.


METHODS
Prospective study of a predriving evaluation.


METHODS
University hospital in Belgium.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with sequelae of first-ever stroke.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Performance in the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment (SDSA) and on a road test.


RESULTS
Interrater reliability of the road test subitems was moderate to substantial (weighted kappa range, .44-.78). Item-per-item reliability varied from moderately high (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=.63) to very high (ICC=.87). The reliability of the overall performance in the road test was very high (ICC=.83). For the criterion validity of the road test, 78.9% of the subjects were correctly classified when the judgments of the principal evaluator were compared with outcomes of the SDSA. Agreement in classification between the principal evaluator and a state-registered evaluator's judgments was 81.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of the agreement were very high (80.6%) and perfect (100%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The road test is a reliable and valid test of driving ability after stroke.
Akinwuntan
Abiodun Emmanuel
AE
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Emmanuel.Akinwuntan@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
De Weerdt
Willy
W
Feys
Hilde
H
Baten
Guido
G
Arno
Patricia
P
Kiekens
Carlotte
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity