TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Evaluating medically at-risk drivers: a survey of assessment practices in Canada
JO  - Canadian journal of occupational therapy
A1  - Vrkljan, Brenda H.
A1  - Myers, Anita M.
A1  - Crizzle, Alexander M.
A1  - Blanchard, Robin A.
A1  - Marshall, Shawn C.
SP  - 295
EP  - 303
VL  - 80
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Assessing medical fitness to drive (FTD) can include both off- and on-road testing, although consistency of practice is unclear. <br><br>PURPOSE: To examine actual practices being used to assess FTD at driver assessment centres (DACs) across Canada. <br><br>METHOD: Surveys e-mailed to 90 DACs were returned by 47 assessors. <br><br>FINDINGS: The majority of respondents (89%) were occupational therapists. Assessors reported doing an average of eight FTD assessments per month (range = I to 40) at an average cost of $366 (SD = $225; range = $40 to $985). Referrals came from physicians (96%), other health professionals (70%), and licensing authorities (66%). Clients with stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, and multiple sclerosis composed 62% of estimated caseloads. Assessments took 3 hr on average (range = 1.24 to 4.5 hr); 64% reported they always took clients on road regardless of clinic results. IMPLICATIONS: Evidence-based guidelines for training and assessment are clearly needed given the inconsistency in practice.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0008-4174
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -