Citation

Kahvedžić A, Mcfadden R, Cummins G, Carr D, O'neill D. Traffic Injury Prev. 2015; 16(6): 593-598.

Affiliation

a National Programme Office for Traffic Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland ;

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389588.2014.979408

PMID

25357143

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in attitudes, resources and practices of GPs towards evaluating medical fitness to drive (MFTD) following the publication of national guidelines and an extensive educational programme in traffic medicine.

METHOD: Postal questionnaire-survey to GPs (n = 1,000) in November 2013.

RESULTS: The final response rate was 46%. GPs are confident (57%) or very confident (14%) in assessing MFTD. There is a high awareness of the new Irish guidelines with 86% of GPs using them for assistance in assessing MFTD. GPs are divided as to whether GPs (49%) or practitioners specially trained for assessing MFTD (44%) should be primarily responsible for assessing MFTD. GPs expressed interest in traffic medicine educational programmes, most notably a resource pack for CME Small Group learning (87%), MFTD software (71%) and an online moodle (68%). Many remain (68%) concerned about their liability in regard to MFTD assessments.

CONCLUSION: Irish GPs are confident in assessing MFTD and show a high level of awareness of the new guidelines. There is a clear interest among GPs in further educational supports and training in traffic medicine, particularly MFTD assessments.

Language: en