@article{ref1,
title="On-road driving assessment in a driving school course and the results of a cognitive function test after stroke in a depopulated rural area in Japan: case series of eight patients",
journal="Curēus",
year="2021",
author="Sakamaki, Keita and Nishizawa, Shin and Katsuki, Masahito and Kawamura, Shin and Koh, Akihito",
volume="13",
number="5",
pages="e15293-e15293",
abstract="Introduction Returning to driving after a stroke is a step toward independence and improving quality of life. Cognitive function after stroke is one of the essential factors that affect driving ability, and on-road driving assessment in driving school courses is beginning to spread in Japan. We started on-road driving assessment in 2018, and we herein report eight patients who underwent on-road driving assessment in the last three years, presenting both off-road cognitive function tests and on-road driving assessment results. <br><br>METHODS Of the 320 consecutive stroke patients from 2018 to 2020, we retrospectively investigated the eight patients' characteristics who underwent on-road driving assessment. We performed cognitive function tests, including behavioral inattention test (BIT), trail-making test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III, and behavioral assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome. Patients who meet BIT > 35, at least three other subitem criteria, and no unevaluable subitems can undergo on-road driving assessment by a driving instructor. With the recommendation of the driving instructors, we comprehensively decided the permission to drive. <br><br>RESULTS All eight patients could return to driving after on-road driving assessment. Two patients could return to driving after nearly a year. <br><br>CONCLUSION The patients did not meet all the cut-offs of the cognitive function test, but they were judged to return to driving by driving instructors. We finally permitted all eight patients to drive. On-road driving assessment in the driving school course might be helpful for determining the permission to return to driving.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2168-8184",
doi="10.7759/cureus.15293",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.15293"
}