ABSTRACT
Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the current practices, strengths, and needs of clinicians who provide driver rehabilitation following stroke. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with occupational therapists from three major stroke rehabilitation hospitals in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Results: When determining medical fitness to drive after stroke, clinicians reported using office-based measures to screen physical-motor (e.g., strength, range-of-motion) and cognitive-perceptual abilities (e.g., Trail Making Test A and B). Interventions used to improve readiness to return to driving included a combination of tabletop (e.g., letter scanning worksheet), physical (e.g., throw and catch), and technology-based activities (e.g., driving simulator). Conclusions: This study provides information on clinical practices specific to driving rehabilitation after stroke. Results highlight the need for standardizing office-based approaches for assessment and determining interventions based on the best available evidence that reflects the skills needed for driving.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the clinicians who volunteered for this study and completed the questionnaires.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Funding
This study was supported by a grant from the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation.