Return-to-driving expectations following mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Aim: Although individuals recovering from mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) could pose a risk to road safety, little is known about their intentions regarding return-to-driving. Reported are the expectations of a sample of emergency department patients with MTBI regarding their recovery and return-to-driving.

Method: Eighty-one patients with MTBI were recruited from an emergency department. Participants completed an 11-item questionnaire measuring expectations regarding recovery from injury; five of the items addressed return-to-driving.

Results: Only 48% of the sample intended to reduce their driving following their injury. However, those that did intend to reduce their driving nominated a mean duration of 16.59 days (SD = 31.68) of reduced exposure. A logistic regression found that previous head injury experience and an interaction between pain and previous head injury experience predicted intentions to reduce driving. Similarly, a multiple regression revealed that pain level contributed significantly to the variance in time estimates of return-to-driving.

Conclusion: The finding that half the individuals recovering from MTBI do not intend to moderate their driving exposure post-injury is cause for concern, as another study has shown that driving performance is compromised in this group immediately after injury.

• Brain concussion
• mild head injury
• fitness-to-drive
• automobile driving
• motor vehicles
• attitudes