title: Return-to-driving expectations following mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although individuals recovering from mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) could pose a risk to road safety, little is known about their intentions regarding return-to-driving. Reported are the expectations of a sample of emergency department patients with MTBI regarding their recovery and return-to-driving.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one patients with MTBI were recruited from an emergency department. Participants completed an 11-item questionnaire measuring expectations regarding recovery from injury; five of the items addressed return-to-driving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 48% of the sample intended to reduce their driving following their injury. However, those that did intend to reduce their driving nominated a mean duration of 16.59 days (SD = 31.68) of reduced exposure. A logistic regression found that previous head injury experience and an interaction between pain and previous head injury experience predicted intentions to reduce driving. Similarly, a multiple regression revealed that pain level contributed significantly to the variance in time estimates of return-to-driving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding that half the individuals recovering from MTBI do not intend to moderate their driving exposure post-injury is cause for concern, as another study has shown that driving performance is compromised in this group immediately after injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia. megan.preece@griffithuni.edu.au
authors.forename: Megan H W
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Preece
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Geffen
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Horswill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult