Driving behaviors in patients with head and neck cancer during and after cancer treatment: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to explore the driving behaviors of head and neck cancer patients during and after cancer therapy.


METHODS
Eighty-three patients completed a questionnaire related to driving behaviors.


RESULTS
The survey revealed that 67.5% of respondents reported that they drove less or stopped driving during cancer therapy, and 26.5% continued to drive less or stopped driving after the completion of cancer therapy. Respondents typically reported greater concern about driving and relied more on other people for transportation during and after cancer therapy than before their diagnosis. Results indicated that the odds for self-restricted driving after cancer therapy were higher for those who were more concerned about driving under challenging driving situations and perceived impaired cognitive function that affected their driving ability.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that perceived impairment resulting from cancer therapy has a significant impact on head and neck cancer patients' driving behaviors.
Yuen
Hon K
HK
Occupational Therapy Educational Program, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, 77 President St. P. O. Box 250700, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. yuen@musc.edu
Gillespie
Marion B
MB
Day
Terry A
TA
Morgan
Larissa
L
Burik
Jerry K
JK
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires