Driving and reintegration into the community in patients after stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between driving versus not driving and community integration after stroke. Much research on patients who drive after experiencing a stroke has focused on driving assessment protocols; little attention has been given to the implications of assessment outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Six driving evaluation centers in Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-three community-dwelling patients who were referred for a driving assessment after they experienced a stroke.

METHODS

Data on demographics, living circumstances, health status, driving habits, and driving history were gathered via a semistructured interview and various questionnaires administered on 3 occasions: study entry (> or =1 month after stroke; n = 53), 3 months (n = 44), and 1 year (n = 43).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Reintegration into the community at 1 year, as evaluated with the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI).

RESULTS

The participants had sustained a stroke an average of 12.3 months before study entry. Two subjects were driving at study entry. At 1 year, 28 (65%) of 43 subjects had passed their driving test and had resumed/continued driving. Nondrivers had a significantly lower mean RNLI score than drivers. Subjects who were not driving at study entry but had resumed driving by 1 year had a significant increase in RNLI score (P = .011). Driving was significantly associated with community integration after adjustment for concomitant health status (P < .001). Driving and health status were associated with community integration at 1 year, accounting for 32% of the variance in RNLI score.

CONCLUSIONS

Driving after stroke was significantly associated with community integration in patients after adjustment for health status (P < .001). Community decision-makers may decide to use the study results when determining the transportation needs of stroke survivors who self-limit their driving because of weather, time of day, or distance concerns.