Video Intervention to Enhance the Safety Of Cognitively Impaired Older Drivers

Lifespan

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Phase 1

Conditions

Impaired Driving

Treatments

Device: DriveCam

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02593552

263758-14

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study was done to assess the feasibility and possible efficacy of a video feedback intervention to improve the safety of cognitively impaired older drivers.

Full description

The goals of this pilot study were to demonstrate that 1) g-force technology can effectively detect unsafe driving events by older adults, and 2) cognitively impaired older adults can improve their driving safety with an in-car video feedback intervention. Unsafe driving events were triggered by g-forces leading to capture of a video record that was then transmitted wirelessly to a remote office where the events were analyzed and scored. During the baseline phase (3 months), there was no feedback. During the intervention phase (4-6 months), participants received a weekly progress report in the mail along with DVD of recorded unsafe driving events with recommendations. The research team then contacted the participant and informant weekly to provide additional coaching, and verify that participants reviewed the information and videos. During the post-intervention monitoring phase (7-9 months), there was no further feedback. The primary quantitative outcomes were total number of unsafe driving events/1,000 miles and total safety driving score/1,000 miles. Secondary qualitative outcomes included the types and severity of unsafe driving events that were recorded.

Enrollment

12 patients

Sex

All

Ages

68 to 90 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

age 60-90
English speaking
currently driving adults with a valid driving license and at least 10 years of driving experience
neurological examinations judged to be normal for age or consistent with AD
questionable to mild dementia (CDR 0.5 to 1)
MMSE < 28
have an adult family member or other caregiver, age >21 to participate in counseling feedback

Exclusion criteria

ophthalmologic, physical, or neurologic disorders other than dementia that impair their driving abilities
visual acuity worse than 20/40 in best eye using distance vision measured by wall chart
homonymous hemianopia or bitemporal hemianopia on confrontation testing
musculoskeletal disorders causing major physical handicaps such as frozen joints, inadequately healed fractures, and amputations
history of alcohol or substance abuse by DSM V diagnostic criteria within the past year
sedating medications that impair level of consciousness or attention
language impairment that would interfere with the ability to participate in the educational intervention
previous road test evaluation or opinion of caregiver or health professional that subject is unsafe to drive.