title: Driving with a chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a review of patients' perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document troublesome driving tasks and any changes in driving behavior reported by people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WADs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study; semistructured interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=33) with chronic WAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale for neck pain at rest and while driving, exposure section of the Driving Habit Questionnaire, self-rating perceived current driving ability, semistructured interview about presenting symptoms, troublesome driving tasks, and perceived changes in driving behavior after a whiplash injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects (24 of 33; 73%) reported a decrease in driving ability, rating an average of 6.7±2.2 on an 11-point scale (0, unable to drive; 10, driving at preinjury level). These subjects scored higher on the NDI (41.8%±18.4%), experienced greater neck pain at rest (4.3±2.1/10) and while driving (5.7±2.1/10), and reported decreased concentration more frequently than those who rated their driving ability at a preinjury level (ie, 10). The most frequently nominated troublesome driving tasks were checking blind spots, prolonged driving, and reversing/reverse parking, and the most frequently cited changes in driving behavior included more use of trunk rotation (75%), altered steering wheel grip (63%), more anxious/nervous while driving (54%), and more cautious driving (50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chronic whiplash population appears to have unique troublesome driving tasks (eg, prolonged driving, checking blind spots) that are not readily detected in currently available driving ability/difficulty scales, suggesting that a new scale may be required for this population.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. h.takasaki@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Venerina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treleaven
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Gwendolen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications*