Return to driving in the first 6 months of community integration after acquired brain injury

Issue title: The Practice of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

Guest editors: Rick Parente

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Fleming, Jennifer^{a; b; c; *} | Liddle, Jacki^a | Nalder, Emily^{a; f} | Weir, Nicole^b | Cornwell, Petrea^{d; e}

Affiliations: [a] School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | [b] Occupational Therapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | [c] Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | [d] Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | [e] Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | [f] Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Jennifer Fleming, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Tel.: +61 7 3896 3084; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Background:Return to driving is a goal and milestone in the recovery process following acquired brain injury (ABI). Knowledge of whether and when a person is likely to return to driving is important to people with ABI, family members and clinicians. Objective:To determine the rates, timing, correlates, and predictors of return to driving in the first 6 months after discharge from hospital following ABI. Methods:Survey of 212 participants with ABI and 121 family members at discharge and 3 and 6 months later. Participants with ABI were grouped according to driving status (not driving, returned within 3 months, returned within 6 months). Groups were compared on demographics, injury severity, quality of life, functioning, psychosocial integration, depression, and carer well-being. Results:By 6 months post-discharge 62.3% had resumed driving. Between group differences existed on measures of injury severity, and psychosocial integration at 6 months, and carer depression and strain at discharge and 6 months. Whether and when someone returned to driving could be predicted by length of hospital stay, and level of community integration, and pain at discharge. Conclusions:Educating clients about their likelihood and timing of return to driving, and supporting non-drivers and their carers may improve psychosocial outcomes.

Keywords: Community integration, rehabilitation, longitudinal studies, brain injuries, traumatic, automobile driving

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-131012

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 157-166, 2014