Driving Intervention for Returning Combat Veterans: Interim Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Classen, Sherrilene; Winter, Sandra; Monahan, Miriam; Yarney, Abraham; Link Lutz, Amanda; Platek, Kyle; Levy, Charles
• Is Part Of: OTJR. Volume 37:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: veterans -- simulation -- driving -- efficacy trial; Occupational therapy -- Periodicals; 615.8515
• DOI: 10.1177/1539449216675582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-4492

Abstract

Increased crash incidence following deployment and veterans' reports of driving difficulty spurred traffic safety research for this population. We conducted an interim analysis on the efficacy of a simulator-based occupational therapy driving intervention (OT-DI) compared with traffic safety education (TSE) in a randomized controlled trial. During baseline and post-testing, OT-Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and one OT-Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist measured driving performance errors on a DriveSafety CDS-250 high-fidelity simulator. The intervention group ( n = 13) received three OT-DI sessions addressing driving errors and visual-search retraining. The control group ( n = 13) received three TSE sessions addressing personal factors and defensive driving. Based on Wilcoxon rank-sum analysis, the OT-DI group's errors were significantly reduced when comparing baseline with Post-Test 1 ( p < .0001) and comparing the OT-DI group with the TSE group at Post-Test 1 ( p = .01 ). These findings provide support for the efficacy of the OT-DI and set the stage for a future effectiveness study.