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Citation
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Elayeh E, Bulatova N, Basheti I, Farha RA, Al-Rawi N, Snaineh AA, Alahwal I. Traffic Injury Prev. 2016; 17(3): 238-244. |
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Affiliation
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a Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy , Faculty of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the main driving-impairing medications used by drivers in Jordan, the reported frequency of medication side effects, the frequency of MVC while being on driving-impairing medicines as well as factors associated with MVCs.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 1049 individuals (age 18-75 years) who are actively driving vehicles and taking at least one medication known to affect driving (anxiolytics, antidepressants, hypnotics, antiepileptics, opioids, sedating antihistamines, hypoglycemic agents, antihypertensives, CNS stimulants and herbals with CNS-related effects) was conducted in Amman-Jordan over the period of 8 months (September, 2013-May, 2014) using a structured validated questionnaire.
RESULTS: Sixty three per cent of participants noticed a link between a medicine taken and feeling sleepy and 57% stated that they experience at least one adverse effect other than sleepiness from their medication. About 22% of the participants reported having MVC/s while being on medication/s. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among the participants who reported having a crash while being on a driving-impairing medication, the odds ratios were significantly higher for the use of inhalant substance (OR 2.787, P = 0.014), having chronic conditions (OR 1.869, P = 0.001) and use of antiepileptic medications (OR 2.348, P = 0.008), while significantly lower for the use of antihypertensives (OR 0.533, P = 0.008).
CONCLUSION: The study results show high prevalence of adverse effects of medications with potential for driving impairment, including involvement in MVCs. Our findings highlight the types of patient-related and medication-related factors associated with MVCs in Jordan, such as inhalant use, presence of chronic conditions and use of antiepileptics.
Language: en |