Shifting gears: An inpatient medical record audit and post-discharge survey of return-to-driving following stroke/transient ischaemic attack.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In Australia, all stroke survivors should not drive for four weeks and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) survivors should not drive for two weeks. This study investigates the provision of return-to-driving education in the acute hospital setting and the use of this education by a cohort of Australian patients who have experienced a mild stroke or TIA and who are discharged directly home from their acute hospital admission.

METHODS

A medical record audit was conducted of stroke patients discharged home from a regional hospital in Australia. All audited patients were sent a post-discharge anonymous survey of their post-stroke driving behaviours.

RESULTS

A total of 78 medical records were audited (32 women, 46 men; 15 TIA, 63 strokes). Mean age was 67.4 years (SD = 13.7, range 20-89 years). Only 27 (34.6%) patients had documented evidence that return-to-driving was discussed with them by a health professional, with only 10 (12.8%) having a restriction period documented. A total of 31 surveys were analysed (10 females, 21 males) and 20 participants had returned to driving. From 31 survivors of mild stroke/TIA, 21 recalled receiving advice on return-to-driving and seven resumed driving during the non-driving period of one month.

CONCLUSIONS

Inconsistencies exist in the documentation of return-to-driving management after acute stroke or TIA and it is unknown whether patients who lack documentation in their medical records were provided with education or not.