When it is time to hang up the keys: the driving and dementia toolkit - for persons with dementia (PWD) and caregivers - a practical resource.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this project was to develop a toolkit to assist persons with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers, in planning for retirement from driving. The information gathered was used to develop a tool that can assist reflection about, and make sound decisions in this challenging area of the dementia journey. The purpose is to keep safe drivers on the road and to prepare those who are moving towards being at risk of being involved in crashes, to eventually stop driving when they are unsafe.The toolkit was prepared to address the concerns of both the PWD as well as the caregivers. Strategies and solutions are presented for both the PWD and the caregivers. A grief insert was also developed that can assist caregivers in supporting the PWD in the grief process that can accompany losing one's driving privileges.

Department of Transportation vs self-reported data on motor vehicle collisions and driving convictions for stroke survivors: do they agree?

OBJECTIVE: Research on stroke survivors' driving safety has typically used either self-reports or government records, but the extent to which the 2 may differ is not known. We compared government records and self-reports of motor vehicle collisions and driving convictions in a sample of stroke survivors. METHODS: The 56 participants were originally recruited for a prospective study on driving and community re-integration post-stroke; the study population consisted of moderately impaired stroke survivors without severe communication disorders who had been referred for a driving assessment. The driving records of the 56 participants for the 5 years before study entry and the 1-year study period were acquired with written consent from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Canada. Self-reports of collisions and convictions were acquired via a semistructured interview and then compared with the MTO records. RESULTS: Forty-three participants completed the study. For 7 (13.5%) the MTO records did not match the self-reports regarding collision involvement, and for 9 (17.3%) the MTO records did not match self-reports regarding driving convictions. The kappa coefficient for the correlation between MTO records and self-reports was 0.52 for collisions and 0.47 for convictions (both in the moderate range of agreement). When both sources of data were consulted, up to 56 percent more accidents and up to 46 percent more convictions were identified in the study population in the 5 years before study entry compared to when either source was used alone. CONCLUSION: In our population of stroke survivors, self-reports of motor vehicle collisions and driving convictions differed from government records. In future studies, the use of both government and self-reported data would ensure a more accurate picture of driving safety post-stroke.

Driving and reintegration into the community in patients after stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between driving versus not driving and community integration after stroke. Much research on patients who drive after experiencing a stroke has focused on driving assessment protocols; little attention has been given to the implications of assessment outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Six driving evaluation centers in Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three community-dwelling patients who were referred for a driving assessment after they experienced a stroke. METHODS: Data on demographics, living circumstances, health status, driving habits, and driving history were gathered via a semistructured interview and various questionnaires administered on 3 occasions: study entry (> or =1 month after stroke; n = 53), 3 months (n = 44), and 1 year (n = 43). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Reintegration into the community at 1 year, as evaluated with the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI). RESULTS: The participants had sustained a stroke an average of 12.3 months before study entry. Two subjects were driving at study entry. At 1 year, 28 (65%) of 43 subjects had passed their driving test and had resumed/continued driving. Nondrivers had a significantly lower mean RNLI score than drivers. Subjects who were not driving at study entry but had resumed driving by 1 year had a significant increase in RNLI score (P = .011). Driving was significantly associated with community integration after adjustment for concomitant health status (P < .001). Driving and health status were associated with community integration at 1 year, accounting for 32% of the variance in RNLI score. CONCLUSIONS: Driving after stroke was significantly associated with community integration in patients after adjustment for health status (P < .001). Community decision-makers may decide to use the study results when determining the transportation needs of stroke survivors who self-limit their driving because of weather, time of day, or distance concerns.

La invención de los derechos humanos

La autora analiza los cambios experimentados por las mentalidades individuales en el siglo XVIII y su influencia en la abolición de la tortura. Asimismo se muestra cómo la Declaración de la Independencia norteamericana y la Declaración de los Derechos del Hombre y del Ciudadano (1789) contribuyeron a romper con la tradición y la autoridad establecida. También se estudia la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos de 1948, Se alerta, finalmente, sobre el resurgir de la tortura y la limpieza étnica, el creciente tráfico sexual y la esclavitud

Differences between poststroke drivers and nondrivers: demographic characteristics, medical status, and transportation use.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic, medical, and transportation use characteristics of stroke survivors wanting to drive who resumed or did not resume driving and compare the driving habits of those who drove with those of a nonstroke control group. DESIGN: One hundred and six stroke survivors who underwent a driving evaluation at a rehabilitation center in Ottawa, Canada, between 1995 and 2003, participated in a structured telephone interview 4-5 yrs after the evaluation. Information on driving history and transportation use before the driving assessment was obtained from the driving assessment client database. The nonstroke control group was derived from the literature. RESULTS: After stroke, 66% of subjects had resumed driving. Prestroke driving history was similar for drivers and nondrivers. Drivers were younger than nondrivers (mean age +/- SD, 62.7 +/- 12.7 yrs vs. 69.2 +/- 13.4 yrs; P = 0.02), had less medical comorbidity (mean modified Cumulative Illness Rating Scale score, 3.7 +/- 1.97 vs. 5.0 +/- 2.89; P = 0.01), and were less likely to rely on a walker (1.4% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.001). Self-imposed restrictions were reported by 35.7% of drivers. More nondrivers than drivers relied on family/friends (94.4% vs. 41.4%), public transportation (60.7% vs. 35.3%), or taxis (27.8% vs. 2.9%) (all P < 0.05). Drivers reported fewer driving difficulties (e.g., skill, weather, or traffic related;

Comparing patients seen in pediatric resident continuity clinics and national ambulatory medical care survey practices: a study from the continuity research network.

OBJECTIVES: The goal was to compare visit data from Continuity Research Network practices with data for a nationally representative sample of pediatric visits in practice settings from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comparing data for Continuity Research Network practice visits during a 1-week period in 2002 with data from the 2000 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was performed. Continuity Research Network and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data were derived from 30 patient visits per practice site for patients < 22 years of age, with the primary care providers being residents and practicing pediatricians, respectively. RESULTS: Eighteen Continuity Research Network practices reported on 540 visits, compared with 32 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey physicians reporting on 792 visits. Continuity Research Network patients were more likely to be black non-Hispanic or Hispanic/Latino and to have public insurance. The top 5 reasons for visits were the same for Continuity Research Network and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey visits, although the orders varied slightly. These 5 reasons accounted for 58% of Continuity Research Network visits and 49% of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey visits. Continuity Research Network visits were more likely to result in patient instructions to return at a specific time (78% vs 52%). CONCLUSIONS: Residents in Continuity Research Network practices provide care to more underserved patients but evaluate problems that are similar to those observed in office practices; the Continuity Research Network practices thus provide important training experiences for residents who will serve both minority and nonminority children.

An exploratory study on the predictive elements of passing on-the-road tests for disabled persons.

OBJECTIVES: Driving evaluations are performed by Occupational Therapists to evaluate drivers with disability. They include both off-road and on-road assessments. Many aspects of driving are examined during the on-road assessment. The main objective of this study is to identify the elements of the Occupational Therapy on-road driving assessment that are most predictive of the overall driving evaluation. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study took place at a provincially approved Driving Assessment Program. Records of 700 participants with various disabilities who completed a driving assessment between 1995 and 2003 were reviewed. Only clients who completed the on-road assessment were included in the study. At our center, 11 driving elements comprised of 34 items were used as independent variables and rated as pass (acceptable or good) or fail (borderline or poor). Analysis was completed with descriptive statistics and use of logistic regression to identify elements that contributed most significantly to the overall driving evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 628 clients completed the on-road assessment with an overall pass rate of 50%. Logistic regression modeling identified poor anticipation of road hazards, observation of environment, improper stopping position, poor visual scanning, poor knowledge of the rules of the road, and increasing age as predictive of failure for all participants. Further analysis grouped subjects according to disability to identify similarities and differences between pass/fail predictors. Both similarities and differences in predictive elements were found between cognitive and physical diagnostic groupings. Most notably, the physical diagnostic grouping showed that cognitive, not physical elements of the on-road test, predicted failure of the overall driving evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 11 elements considered in the on-road evaluation, specific cognitive ones such as anticipates potential hazards, scanning, observes for pedestrians, and proper stopping position tend to contribute more to the prediction of pass or fail than others. These elements should be considered as components of on-road assessments by other Driving Assessment Programs.

All the world's a stage: the use of theatrical performance in medical education.

PURPOSE: Student exposure to illness-related theatrical performances holds intriguing educational possibilities. This project explored uses of theatrical performance within the context of medical education. METHOD: Two 1-person shows, dramatically addressing AIDS and ovarian cancer, were presented to audiences totalling approximately 150 medical students, faculty, community doctors, staff and patients. RESULTS: Evaluations for both performances indicated increased understanding of the illness experience and greater empathy for patients. They also showed that respondents obtained additional insights into patient care issues, and developed new ways of thinking about their situations. CONCLUSIONS: Presenting illness-related dramatic performances as an adjunct method of enhancing empathy and insight toward patients in a self-selected group of students, doctors, staff and patients was successful. Although this approach might not be effective with all learners, those who participated felt they gained important insights into the nature of the patient experience.

A continuing medical education initiative for canadian primary care physicians: the driving and dementia toolkit: a pre- and postevaluation of knowledge, confidence gained, and satisfaction.

This study examined the effect of the Driving and Dementia Toolkit on physician knowledge and confidence gained and the anticipated change in patient assessment and evaluated the extent to which physicians found the material to be useful. Before receiving the driving toolkit, 301 randomly selected primary care physicians received a copy of the pretest questionnaire; 145 responded and met the eligibility criteria. This group was then sent the toolkit, a satisfaction a survey, and a posttest questionnaire. Physicians were faxed the questionnaires (with up to three reminders) and telephoned if necessary. Changes in pre- and posttest results were analyzed using the McNemar test and Wilcoxon signed rank test nonparametric procedures included in SPSS, Version 10.0, and paired-samples t test. Pre- and posttest data were available and could be matched for 86 physicians (59.3%) response. Knowledge and confidence increased significantly (P