Seniors Driving Cessation Early Intervention Group

Overview

This study will investigate the effects of a new form of early intervention for senior drivers who are at risk of changes to their driving status. The early intervention consists of group activities involving planning and professionally facilitated discussion. There are three main research hypotheses for this study. Firstly, it is hypothesised that early intervention, in the form of the information and planning group, will not be associated with either increases or decreases in driving assessment failure or driving cessation. Secondly, it is hypothesised that early intervention will be associated with patterns of reduced depression and less persistent negative mood states. Thirdly, it is hypothesised that early intervention will be associated with patterns of sustained levels of important quality of life indicators such as community participation and social relationships.

Study Protocol Summary: This Canadian, British Columbian study, in the Fraser Health Authority region will involve seniors who have been referred to two Specialized Seniors Clinics (SSC) and have been flagged by clinicians for report to the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) for a driving assessment. At the White Rock/South Surrey (WR/SS) SSC,British Columbia (BC),10 subjects will be invited to participate in an information and planning group. Ten additional subjects from New Westminster (NW), BC SSC, will be matched with group participants. Each subject will be interviewed by an occupational therapist during which time the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)and an abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Seniors Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) will be administered. Each subject will be contacted by phone bi-monthly for 10 months and the tests will be re-administered. During the phone calls additional information about each senior's driving status and driving patterns will be collected. Background Information: This type of early intervention has not previously been researched or made available. Research has shown that seniors who lose their driving license are at increased risk of depression and social isolation. The PI research that preceded this study demonstrated that seniors who had experienced enforced loss of their driving license often showed long-term negative emotions such as anger and bitterness coupled with a sense of injustice. Purpose of Study The purpose of the study is to explore evidence of possible effects of an early intervention group in the areas of mood, quality of life and community access. Justification for Study: An important justification for this study is to examine the effects of a new concept of early intervention. Previous forms of intervention with existing senior drivers prior to assessment have involved activities such as public education and mature driver workshops. These have been evaluated in terms of the growth of knowledge and driving safety. In contrast, the new concept of early intervention involves activities such as group change strategies, positive psychology approaches and topic based discussion designed to mitigate the health and quality of life effects of regulation and cessation. In researching this new concept of early intervention, this project is intended to open up a new field for research. It will provide evidence of what effects can follow from early intervention and will indicate topics to be explored in subsequent research. In addition it will establish a model for the longitudinal research of senior drivers.