Driving performance in patients with cancer in the head and neck region: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate actual driving performance in a group of patients with cancer in the head and neck region.


METHODS
A nonrandomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Ten patients with cancer in the head and neck region participated in a driving evaluation using a virtual reality driving simulator. Driving performance from the simulator and observer ratings on participants' driving behaviors were compared between a group of patients with cancer in the head and neck region and a group of 50 community control subjects.


METHODS
Average speed, mean brake reaction time, steering variability, the total number of (fatal and nonfatal) collisions during the 12-minute evaluation course on the driving simulator, and the score of the 18-item Simulator Driving Performance Scale.


RESULTS
Using Mann-Whitney U tests, the brake reaction time and the steering variability in the cancer group were significantly longer and larger, respectively, than those in the control group (P = .04) and (P = .02). However, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups in the mean rank scores for average speed, total number of collisions, and Simulator Driving Performance Scale (P >.05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study provides preliminary evidence indicating inferior driving performance in a group of patients with cancer in the head and neck region when compared with a community control group. Further study is needed to investigate factors attributing to the difference.
Yuen
Hon K
HK
Occupational Therapy Educational Program, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, 77 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. yuen@musc.edu
Gillespie
M Boyd
MB
Barkley
Russell A
RA
Day
Terry A
TA
Bandyopadhyay
Dipankar
D
Sharma
Anand K
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D014584:User-Computer Interface