A driving cessation program to identify and improve transport and lifestyle issues of older retired and retiring drivers.
BACKGROUND
This study explored the transport and lifestyle issues of older retired and retiring drivers participating in the University of Queensland Driver Retirement Initiative (UQDRIVE), a group program to promote adjustment to driving cessation for retired and retiring older drivers.


METHODS
A mixed method research design explored the impact of UQDRIVE on the transport and lifestyle issues of 55 participants who were of mean age 77.9 years and predominantly female (n = 40). The participants included retired (n = 32) and retiring (n = 23) drivers. Transport and lifestyle issues were identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and rated pre- and post-intervention.


RESULTS
Paired t-tests demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in performance (t = 10.5, p < 0.001) and satisfaction (t = 9.9, p < 0.001) scores of individual issues. Qualitative content analysis identified three categories of issues including: protecting my lifestyle; a better understanding of transport options; and being prepared and feeling okay.


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in UQDRIVE had a positive and significant effect on the issues of the participants. The results highlight that although all participants stated issues related predominantly to practical concerns, there were trends in the issues identified by the drivers and retired drivers that were consistent with their current phase of the driving cessation process.
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. l.gustafsson@uq.edu.au
Louise
L
Gustafsson
Jacki
J
Liddle
Phyllis
P
Liang
Nancy
N
Pachana
Melanie
M
Hoyle
Geoff
G
Mitchell
Kryss
K
McKenna
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods