[Doctors' views on medical assessments of drivers].

BACKGROUND

Medical assessment of drivers and completion of a health certificate (required for getting a driver's licence for certain groups in Norway) is a difficult task to handle for many doctors. We wanted to gain more knowledge of what doctors find most difficult and the type of assistance they feel would be helpful.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Based on their own experience, the authors developed a questionnaire with 13 questions; two open and 11 closed questions, and a possibility to write more detailed answers for four of the questions. The questionnaire was sent to a random sample of Norwegian doctors; 680 general practitioners (GPs) and 493 specialists within neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, and geriatrics. One reminder was sent. Answers to questions were categorised and frequency analyses performed.

RESULTS

The response rate was 52 % for GPs and 55 % for specialists. GPs reported that cognitive impairment, advanced age; substance abuse and alcohol problems were the most difficult areas to assess, while the specialist group found that substance abuse and alcohol problems, psychiatric disease and use of different medications were most difficult. The doctors are not satisfied with the assistance provided by the authorities in this area, and specifically ask for a specialised agency to which they can refer patients for assessment.

INTERPRETATION: More specific guidelines and a formal second-line system would facilitate the burden on doctors.