Background: Discussions around driving cessation
between clinicians and dementia patients are challenging. Patients view
giving up their license as losing their independence. We sought to develop a
tool that enables standardized and consistent driving messaging across
clinicians working in a specialist memory clinic, across the span of
cognitive disorders Methods: We developed a driving
recommendations generator that allows clinicians to produce information
handouts personalized to individual patient capabilities and needs.
Clinicians select from a list of established recommendations that were
developed with neurologist and geriatrician input, and consistent with
provincial requirements. Recommendations cover patients’ current driving
ability, road safety examinations, alternate transportation, and license
revocation. Early driving retirement is emphasized and encouraged, to
proactively support patients’ choices, safety and independence.
Recommendation and handouts are printed for the patients.
Results: Patients reported that the
recommendations were easy to read and understand, and helped them to
implement physician suggestions. All surveyed clients recommended continuing
to provide such recommendations to future patients and families. Clinicians
agreed that the tool helped them to save time, and simplified the process of
finding accurate information to provide patients.
Conclusions: Clinicians have found the system
timesaving and useful for simplifying the process of providing helpful,
informative resources for patients.