Access and participation in the community: a prospective qualitative study of driving post-stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Loss of role as a driver significantly affects community participation; therefore, we aimed to explore the impact of driving issues post-stroke in community-dwelling stroke survivors.


METHODS
A longitudinal qualitative study of community-dwelling stroke survivors, using semi-structured interviews.


RESULTS
Twenty-two participants took part in 84 interviews over a 1-year period post-stroke. The majority of participants was independent and experienced few major depressive symptoms. ages ranged from 50 to 92 years. Emergent key themes included impact on quality of life, personal impacts, change to role performance and knowledge. Participants received inconsistent advice regarding return to driving. Confidence and availability determined public transport use.


CONCLUSIONS
Driving advice should be standard practice prior to discharge. Allied health professionals can play an essential role in interventions addressing community participation, driver re-training and alternative transport use. Therapists have an important role in assisting stroke survivors to work through feelings of loss and in providing education concerning new skills to support this life transition.
Hunter Stroke Service, Hunter New England Area Health Local Network, New South Wales, Australia. jennifer.white@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Jennifer H
JH
White
Belinda
B
Miller
Parker
P
Magin
John
J
Attia
Jonathan
J
Sturm
Michael
M
Pollack
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*