Driving with cerebral palsy – medical and neuropsychological determinants of fitness to drive - a follow-up study

Abstract

Author: Sigrunn Grønningen Aa Title: Driving with cerebral palsy – medical and neuropsychological determinants of fitness to drive – a follow-up study Head supervisor: Per-Ola Rike Co-supervisor: Anne-Kristine Schanke Objective: Investigate if there are medical, demographical or neuropsychological factors associated with driver’s licence status, and explore driving behaviour in this cohort of CP drivers. Design: Retrospective cohort design. A follow-up survey was sent to participants with CP that passed a multidisciplinary driving assessment in the period 2011-2013. Retrospective data were retrieved from the participants’ medical journals. Subjects: A total of 17 persons, 3 men and 14 women, mean age 26 years at follow-up. All subjects were previous patients with cerebral palsy that passed a multidisciplinary driving assessment at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital in Norway. Methods: The follow-up survey covered data from driving training, self-reported driving behaviour, driving self-efficacy and measures of perceived pain and fatigue. The survey data were analysed in comparison with retrospective medical and neuropsychological data retrieved from the participants’ journals from the driving assessment at Sunnaas. The study is a research project at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. Author, Sigrunn Grønningen Aa, has been a co-worker at the project since it started and has done all data acquisition, together with head supervisor Per-Ola Rike. Results: 11 participants held a valid driver’s license at the time of follow-up. Both the driving and non-driving cohort portrayed some cognitive difficulties, but impairments in visual attention, processing speed and executive function were most frequent among the non-drivers. 63% felt confident behind the steering-wheel and did not report any limitations on their driving. Four drivers had been involved in traffic accidents. Conclusion: Despite a small sample size, this thesis shows that many people with CP become safe and confident drivers. Still, one third of this sample did not obtain a valid driver’s license. Thus, when assessing fitness to drive prior to driving training, clinicians need to give realistic advice regarding the often arduous process that driving training may represent. Cognitive and executive difficulties were more frequent among the non-driving cohort.