title: Do Demographics and Functional Abilities Influence Vehicle Type Driven by Older Canadians?
abstract: In this study, we examined the Candrive baseline data (n = 928; aged 70 to 94; 62% were men) to determine whether driver characteristics (i.e., age, gender, height, weight, BMI) and certain functional abilities (i.e., Rapid Paced Walk, Timed Up and Go) influenced the types of vehicles driven. There were significant differences with respect to type of vehicle and mean driver age (F = 3.58, p = 0.003), height, (F = 13.32, p < 0.001), weight (F = 14.31, p < 0.001), and BMI (F = 4.40, p = 0.001). A greater proportion of drivers with osteoporosis (χ2 = 21.23, p = 0.020) and osteo/rheumatoid arthritis (χ2 = 21.23, p = 0.020) drove small and medium-sized cars compared to larger ones. Further research is needed to examine older driver-vehicle interactions, and the relationship to demographics and functional abilities, given the vulnerability of this age group to automotive-related injuries.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vrkljan
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.|School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crizzle
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.affiliation: Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University.
authors.forename: Sjaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppel
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal; Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences; Department of Research, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network; Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Naglie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Safe Driving and Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bédard
authors.affiliation: Centre on Aging and Department of Psychology, University of Victoria.
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Tuokko
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal; Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gélinas
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Shawn C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rapoport
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001336:Automobiles; D001824:Body Constitution; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: BMI; IMC; aging; conception automobile; conducteurs âgés; conduite; driving; older drivers; vehicle design; vieillissment