title: Conceptualizing and measuring confidence in older drivers: development of the day and night driving comfort scales.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine and measure driving confidence from the perspective of older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Used focus groups for construct examination, item generation, and ratings; conducted psychometric testing using Rasch analysis for scale refinement; examined test-retest reliability and associations with driver characteristics and driving habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retirement complexes and seniors' housing and centers in Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience samples of current drivers (n=143) (range, 66-92y) and 7 counselors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Day (DCS-D) and Night (DCS-N) Driving Comfort Scales developed inductively with older drivers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older drivers believed that it was important to consider confidence in their own abilities and discomfort caused by other drivers, to separate day and night driving, and to specify the driving context (eg, traffic flow, speed). Rasch analysis showed that the final 13-item DCS-D and 16-item DCS-N were both hierarchic and unidimensional, with good person (.89, .96) and item (.98, .97) reliabilities, respectively. Test-retest reliability was adequate for the DCS-D (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=.7) and good for the DCS-N (ICC=.88). Scores were significantly associated with reported driving frequency, situational avoidance, and perceived abilities (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Driving Comfort Scales are promising new tools for research and practice.
authors: Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. amyers@healthy.uwaterloo.ca
authors: Anita M
authors: AM
authors: Myers
authors: Josee A
authors: JA
authors: Paradis
authors: Robin A
authors: RA
authors: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009755:Night Blindness; D011336:Probability; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014505:Urban Population