title: Predictors of on-road driver performance following traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine assessment outcomes and factors associated with passing an occupational therapy (OT) on-road driver assessment after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of outcomes of on-road driver assessment completed by persons with TBI over an 8-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of individuals (N=207) with mild to severe TBI who completed an on-road driver assessment and were assessed at least 3 months postinjury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome of on-road driver assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the drivers with TBI, 66% (n=137) passed the initial on-road driver assessment (pass group), whereas 34% (n=70) required on-road driver rehabilitation and/or ≥1 on-road assessment (rehabilitation group). After driver rehabilitation, only 3 participants of the group did not resume driving. Participants who were men, had shorter posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) duration, had no physical and/or visual impairment, and had faster reaction times were significantly more likely to be in the pass group. In combination, these variables correctly classified 87.6% of the pass group and 71.2% of the rehabilitation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTA duration proved to be a better predictor of driver assessment outcome than Glasgow Coma Scale score. In combination with the presence of physical/visual impairment and slowed reaction times, PTA could assist clinicians to determine referral criteria for OT driver assessment. On-road driver rehabilitation followed by on-road reassessment were associated with a high probability of return to driving after TBI.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: pam.ross@epworth.org.au.
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ponsford
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Automobile driving; Brain injuries; Glasgow Coma Scale; Rehabilitation