TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - The use and safety of medications known to affect driving in Jordan: a cross-sectional study JO - Traffic injury prevention A1 - Elayeh, Eman A1 - Bulatova, Nailya A1 - Basheti, Iman A1 - Farha, Rana Abu A1 - Al-Rawi, Naseer A1 - Snaineh, Ahmad Abu A1 - Alahwal, Ibrahim SP - 238 EP - 244 VL - 17 IS - 3 N2 - 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

LA - en SN - 1538-9588 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2015.1065543 ID - ref1 ER -