title: Efficacy of an occupational therapy driving intervention for returning combat veterans.
abstract: Polytrauma, including mild traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and orthopedic conditions, is common among combat veterans (CVs) from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Medical conditions, coupled with deployment-related training, may affect CVs' fitness to drive and contribute to post-deployment crash and injury risks. However, empirical interventions are lacking. Therefore, the study purpose was to examine the efficacy of an occupational therapy driving intervention (OT-DI) with pre and post testing of CVs. Using a DriveSafety 250 simulator, Occupational Therapy-Driver Rehabilitation Specialists recorded driving errors. Eight CVs (mean age = 39.83, SD = 7.80) received three OT-DI sessions, which incorporated strategies to address driving errors and visual search retraining. We determined baseline driving errors (mean = 31.63, SD = 8.96) were double the number of posttest errors (mean = 15.38, SD = 9.71). At posttesting, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease was noted for total errors and lane maintenance. Despite study constraints, preliminary data support the efficacy of the OT-DI.
authors.forename: Sherrilene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Classen
authors.forename: Nicole Leigh
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Cormack
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monahan
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yarney
authors.forename: Amanda Link
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Platek
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans