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Developing referral and reassessment criteria for drivers with dementia
Author(s) -
Lovell Robin K.,
Russell Kay J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2005.00454.x
Subject(s) - dementia , referral , medicine , memory clinic , disease , psychiatry , physical therapy , family medicine
Background and Aims: Determining if a person with dementia should be referred for a driver assessment, at what stage of the illness and how often to repeat this are difficult decisions for health professionals. The aims of this study were to develop criteria for driver assessment referral and to explore the value of routine reassessment for drivers with dementia.Methods and Results: Twenty participants with a diagnosis of dementia were recruited from a memory clinic and underwent a standard occupational therapy driver assessment and reassessment 6 months later. Fifteen failed the initial assessment but 10 went on to pass local area assessments. Some participants in the early stages of the disease failed. Five of the nine participants suitable for reassessment at 6 months also failed.Conclusion: The results confirmed that routine referral following the diagnosis of dementia is appropriate. Change in performance was noted at reassessment, confirming that 6 months between assessments is an appropriate timeframe.