Date Presented 4/20/2018
This grant-funded study explored the impact of occupational therapy interventions for older driver rehabilitation. It occurred in two of the three counties in Delaware. Interventions included driving simulation sessions for all participants.
Primary Author and Speaker: Varleisha Gibbs
Additional Authors and Speakers: Taliah Cook, Marcella Matteo
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore possible intervention strategies to assist in the development of a driver rehabilitation program for Delaware older drivers. Findings will inform the development of driving rehabilitation programs within the state and nationally. Injuries to older adults resulting from car crashes lead to substantial health care costs. The state of Delaware has the fastest growing aging population in the United States. Through grant funding, this study explored the impact of occupational therapy interventions for older driver rehabilitation. It occurred in two of the three counties in Delaware.
METHOD: For this randomized controlled trial, we randomly selected licensed drivers aged 65 and older for control and experimental groups. Participants were current drivers without significant visual loss or physical limitations. Pretesting involved visual and gross motor assessments. An eye-tracking device provided information regarding participants’ tracking and scanning abilities. Interventions included six weekly driving simulation sessions for all participants; the experimental group also received occupational therapy–based interventions.
We analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data. The driving simulator software collected data regarding the participants’ performance. IBM SPSS Statistics (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used to analyze quantitative data. For data analysis, the researcher used parametric and descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: Findings revealed improvement in participants’ timeliness and visual scanning. Qualitative improvement occurred in the areas of comfort level while driving and decreased anxiety. Some participants reported visual disturbance from the driving simulator resulting in nausea.
CONCLUSION: When developing an older driver program, it is necessary to identify underlying conditions. Driving simulation may not be appropriate for all. Occupational therapy practitioners use a multifaceted approach and must become involved in the development of community-based driving programs.
IMPACT STATEMENT: This study posed challenges that can further inform the development of community-based driving programs. Driving rehabilitation and training programs should be more readily available for those interested in developing such skills as a practitioner.
References
Betz, M. E., Dickerson, A., Coolman, T., Schold Davis, E., Jones, J., & Schwartz, R. (2014). Driving rehabilitation programs for older drivers in the United States. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28, 306–317. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.016915
Golisz, K. (2014). Occupational therapy interventions to improve driving performance in older adults: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, 662–669. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.011247
