Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic, medical, and transportation use
characteristics of stroke survivors wanting to drive who resumed or did not
resume driving and compare the driving habits of those who drove with those of a
nonstroke control group. DESIGN: One hundred and six stroke survivors who
underwent a driving evaluation at a rehabilitation center in Ottawa, Canada,
between 1995 and 2003, participated in a structured telephone interview 4-5 yrs
after the evaluation. Information on driving history and transportation use
before the driving assessment was obtained from the driving assessment client
database. The nonstroke control group was derived from the literature. RESULTS:
After stroke, 66% of subjects had resumed driving. Prestroke driving history was
similar for drivers and nondrivers. Drivers were younger than nondrivers (mean
age +/- SD, 62.7 +/- 12.7 yrs vs. 69.2 +/- 13.4 yrs; P = 0.02), had less medical
comorbidity (mean modified Cumulative Illness Rating Scale score, 3.7 +/- 1.97
vs. 5.0 +/- 2.89; P = 0.01), and were less likely to rely on a walker (1.4% vs.
19.4%, P < 0.001). Self-imposed restrictions were reported by 35.7% of drivers.
More nondrivers than drivers relied on family/friends (94.4% vs. 41.4%), public
transportation (60.7% vs. 35.3%), or taxis (27.8% vs. 2.9%) (all P < 0.05).
Drivers reported fewer driving difficulties (e.g., skill, weather, or traffic
related; <or=20% for each) than the nonstroke group. Five of 12 licensed patients
with stroke who drove to their first assessment failed it. CONCLUSIONS: In a
sample of stroke survivors who had similar driving histories before their stroke
and who were deemed to have the potential to drive, those who resumed driving
after their stroke were younger, had fewer medical problems, and were less
disabled than those who did not return to driving. Self-imposed driving
restrictions were common. Compared with drivers, nondrivers relied more on
friends, family, public transportation, and taxis.

Langue : ANGLAIS