- Title
- Australian health professionals' perceptions about the management of return to driving early after stroke: A mixed methods study
- Creator
- Frith, Janet; James, Carole; Hubbard, Isobel; Warren-Forward, Helen
- Relation
- Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation Vol. 28, Issue 3, p. 198-206
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2020.1803570
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2021
- Description
- Background: Stroke can affect a person’s ability to drive a motor vehicle. In Australia, there is a 4-week restriction in driving after stroke and a 2-week restriction after transient ischemic attack. Concerns exist as to whether people discharged home from the acute setting receive education about these driving restrictions. Objectives: This study sought to investigate health professionals’ knowledge about, and responsibilities for patients return-to-driving (RTD) education after stroke and TIA. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was designed and included questions about health professional demographic characteristics and knowledge and opinions of RTD guidelines. An open-ended question at the end of the survey enabled respondents to provide additional, free text information. Descriptive analyses were used to describe respondents’ demography and characteristics. Chi-square analysis was used to compare responses across the different professional groups. Significance was tested using a p-value of 0.05. Data obtained from the free text question were analyzed through an inductive thematic approach. Results: A total of 455 health professionals responded to the survey, with 45% being occupational therapists. Only 22% of health professionals correctly selected the 4-week restriction period after stroke and 27% selected the 2-week restriction period for those with TIA. Occupational therapists were identified by 85% of respondents as the profession responsible for providing RTD education, followed by doctors (72%). Health professionals lack clarity in RTD guidelines and often defer the responsibility of managing RTD to others. Conclusions: Education of health professionals in RTD guidelines is recommended to improve the processes of care after stroke.
- Subject
- automobile driving - evaluation; stroke - acute; occupational therapy; general practitioners; practice guidelines; SDG 3; Sustainable Development Goals
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1475641
- Identifier
- uon:49612
- Identifier
- ISSN:1074-9357
- Language
- eng
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