Transportation and driving in longitudinal studies on ageing.
BACKGROUND
the associations between transportation, driving and successful ageing are as yet poorly understood. As longitudinal studies are the best methodology for clarifying associations and relationships between health, ageing and environmental factors, we sought to determine how transportation is incorporated into longitudinal studies, and which aspects are assessed.


METHODS
of 55 longitudinal studies on ageing on the National Institute on Aging register, online survey instruments, where available, were scrutinised for references to transport. Where unavailable, principal investigators were contacted by mail/email/phone and asked to forward questions on transportation and driving. Questions were classified into (i) systems, (ii) resources, (iii) transport satisfaction and (iv) mobility needs.


RESULTS
of 55 studies, we could review 36 questionnaires (28 personal replies, 9 accessible online survey instruments). Sixteen had no reference to driving or transportation, 20 (61%) had public transport components and 12 (31%) included questions about driving. Questions covered systems (17), transportation needs (12), transportation resources (11) and transportation satisfaction (4).


CONCLUSIONS
transport is under-represented in ongoing longitudinal studies, with emphases on public transport, systems and resources, rather than driving and satisfaction. Future waves of studies could usefully review their survey instruments to better measure older people's preferences on transport options and satisfaction.
Bartley
Mairead
M
Centre for Ageing, Neuroscience and the Humanities, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
O'Neill
Desmond
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*