title: Dropout during a driving simulator study: A survival analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simulator sickness is the occurrence of motion-sickness like symptoms that can occur during use of simulators and virtual reality technologies. This study investigated individual factors that contributed to simulator sickness and dropout while using a desktop driving simulator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight older adult drivers (mean age 72.82±5.42years) attempted a practice drive and two test drives. Participants also completed a battery of cognitive and visual assessments, provided information on their health and driving habits, and reported their experience of simulator sickness symptoms throughout the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two participants dropped out before completing the driving tasks. A time-dependent Cox Proportional Hazards model showed that female gender (HR=2.02), prior motion sickness history (HR=2.22), and Mini-SSQ score (HR=1.55) were associated with dropout. There were no differences between dropouts and completers on any of the cognitive abilities tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults are a high-risk group for simulator sickness. Within this group, female gender and prior motion sickness history are related to simulator dropout. Higher reported experience of symptoms of simulator sickness increased rates of dropout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the importance of screening and monitoring of participants in driving simulation studies. Older adults, females, and those with a prior history of motion sickness may be especially at risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. Electronic address: nicole.matas@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Matas
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nettelbeck
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Driving simulation; Motion sickness; Older adults; Simulator sickness; Survival analysis