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.
Prospective study.
Six driving evaluation centers in Ontario, Canada.
Fifty-three community-dwelling patients who were referred for a driving assessment after they experienced a stroke.
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).
Reintegration into the community at 1 year, as evaluated with the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI).
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