title: Implementation of a teaching programme to improve doctors' awareness of DVLA guidelines: a multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over half of the UK population holds a driver's licence. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) guidelines are available for conditions from most specialties. Despite this, no focused training occurs in the undergraduate or postgraduate setting. We evaluate the impact of a teaching programme to improve guideline awareness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 25-point questionnaire was designed using the current DVLA guidelines. Five questions were included for the following fields: neurology, cardiology, drug and alcohol abuse, visual disorders and respiratory. This was distributed to doctors in training at five hospitals. Four weeks later, a single-session teaching programme was implemented. The questionnaire was redistributed. Preintervention and postintervention scores were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  139 preteaching and 144 post-teaching questionnaires were completed. Implementation of a single-session teaching programme significantly improved the knowledge of DVLA guidelines in all five areas explored. Median scores: neurology, preteaching 40%, post-teaching 100%, p<0.001; cardiology, 0%, 100%, p<0.001; drug and alcohol misuse, 0%, 100%, p<0.001; visual disorders, 40%, 100%, p<0.001; respiratory disorders, 20%, 100%, p<0.001; and overall, 28%, 92%, p<0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of DVLA guidelines among our cohort was poor. Implementation of a single-session teaching programme can significantly improve guideline knowledge and awareness, serving as a cost-effective intervention.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mahiben
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruthappu
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.affiliation: Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Ben L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Gollop
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shalhoub
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, London, UK.|Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Ka Ying Bonnie
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D001333:Automobile Driver Examination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000592:standards*; D001364:Awareness; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008004:Licensure; D010819:Physician's Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training); MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING