title: Awareness tool for safe and responsible driving (OSCAR): a potential educational intervention for increasing interest, openness and knowledge about the abilities required and compensatory strategies among older drivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study aimed to verify the impact of the awareness tool for safe and responsible driving (OSCAR) on older adults' (1) interest, openness, and knowledge about the abilities and compensatory strategies required for safe driving; (2) awareness of changes that have occurred in their own driving abilities; and (3) actual utilization of compensatory strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preexperimental design, including a pretest (T0) and posttest (T1) 8 to 10 weeks after exposure to the intervention, was used with 48 drivers aged between 67 and 84. The participants had a valid driving license and drove at least once a week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the results demonstrate that OSCAR increased interest, openness, and knowledge about the abilities and compensatory strategies of older drivers (P <.01). After exposure to OSCAR, the majority of the participants confirmed that changes had occurred in at least one of their abilities. Moreover, half of the older drivers reported having started using 6 or more compensatory strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, in addition to increasing older adults' interest, openness, and knowledge to discussion about driving, OSCAR also improved awareness of the changes that could negatively impact safe driving and enhanced utilization of compensatory strategies. While promoting safe driving and the prevention of crashes and injuries, this intervention could ultimately help older adults maintain or increase their transportation mobility. More studies are needed to further evaluate OSCAR and identify ways to improve its effectiveness.
authors: a Research Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre, University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke (CSSS-IUGS) , Sherbrooke , Quebec , Canada.
authors: Mélanie
authors: M
authors: Levasseur
authors: Thérèse
authors: T
authors: Audet
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Gélinas
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Bédard
authors: Marie-Ève
authors: MÈ
authors: Langlais
authors: France-Hélène
authors: FH
authors: Therrien
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Renaud
authors: Jean-Claude
authors: JC
authors: Coallier
authors: Monia
authors: M
authors: D'Amours
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety
keywords: aging; compensation; driving skills; older adults; self-regulation; transportation mobility