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A driving cessation program to identify and improve transport and lifestyle issues of older retired and retiring drivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2012

Louise Gustafsson*
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Jacki Liddle
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Phyllis Liang
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Nancy Pachana
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Melanie Hoyle
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Geoff Mitchell
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Kryss McKenna
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Louise Gustafsson, PhD, Lecturer, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane Queensland 4072, Australia. Phone: +61 7 33652926. Email: l.gustafsson@uq.edu.au.

Abstract

Background: This study explored the transport and lifestyle issues of older retired and retiring drivers participating in the University of Queensland Driver Retirement Initiative (UQDRIVE), a group program to promote adjustment to driving cessation for retired and retiring older drivers.

Methods: A mixed method research design explored the impact of UQDRIVE on the transport and lifestyle issues of 55 participants who were of mean age 77.9 years and predominantly female (n = 40). The participants included retired (n = 32) and retiring (n = 23) drivers. Transport and lifestyle issues were identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and rated pre- and post-intervention.

Results: Paired t-tests demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in performance (t = 10.5, p < 0.001) and satisfaction (t = 9.9, p < 0.001) scores of individual issues. Qualitative content analysis identified three categories of issues including: protecting my lifestyle; a better understanding of transport options; and being prepared and feeling okay.

Conclusions: Participation in UQDRIVE had a positive and significant effect on the issues of the participants. The results highlight that although all participants stated issues related predominantly to practical concerns, there were trends in the issues identified by the drivers and retired drivers that were consistent with their current phase of the driving cessation process.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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