Subjective Experiences of Driving Cessation and Dementia: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Literature

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To review qualitative research on the specific challenges and strategies that relate to driving cessation for older adults with dementia, from the perspectives of key informant groups.

Method: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies was conducted. Structured inclusion criteria were applied to screen 616 titles and abstracts, and 9 qualitative studies were included, published from 2002 to 2016. Descriptive themes were identified using content analysis and synthesized to generate analytic themes.

Results: The study samples and methodologies represented a diverse range. Cross-cutting themes on experiences of driving cessation for people with dementia are the: importance of open communication and autonomy in decision-making, and advanced planning to connect people with resources; significance of relationships; importance of providing support for the impact of cessation on identity and emotional wellbeing; and benefit of individualizing supportive approaches.

Conclusion: This review identifies some important areas for consideration when designing supportive programs to address driving.

Clinical Implications: Interventions to support driving cessation for people with dementia should prioritize support for communication, advanced planning, and emotional effects of stopping driving.

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• driving cessation
• qualitative
• subjective experience

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). The CCNA is supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research with funding from several partners. Gary Naglie was supported by the George, Margaret and Gary Hunt Family Chair in Geriatric Medicine, University of Toronto. The authors wish to thank Henry Lam, librarian at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Tonya Mahar, librarian at Baycrest Health Sciences, for their involvement in the literature search portion of this project. The CCNA Driving and Dementia Co-investigators include: Michel Bédard (Lakehead University), Patricia Belchior (McGill University), Isabelle Gélinas (McGill University), Shawn Marshall (University of Ottawa), Barbara Mazer (McGill University), Paige Moorhouse (Dalhousie University), Anita Myers (University of Waterloo), Jan Polgar, (Western University), Michelle Porter (University of Manitoba), Brenda Vrkljan (McMaster University), and Stephanie Yamin (St Paul University).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) [201312CNA-322265-CNA-CFAF-32054]. The CCNA is supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research with funding from several partners.