Visual Attention Cut Points for Driver Fitness in Parkinson's Disease. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Classen, Sherrilene; Brumback, Babette; Crawford, Karla; Jenniex, Sara
• Is Part Of: OTJR. Volume 39:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 257
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: driving -- aging -- Parkinson's disease -- assessment -- visual attention; Occupational therapy -- Periodicals; 615.8515
• DOI: 10.1177/1539449219836689
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-4492

Abstract

This study determined whether the Useful Field of View™ Risk Index (UFOV RI) adds value as a predictor of on-road outcomes in drivers with Parkinson's disease (PD) when considered with age, gender, and disease severity and compared with community-dwelling older drivers (Controls). A total of 101 PD drivers and 138 Controls underwent a comprehensive driving evaluation, including an on-road assessment. Logistic regression analyses determined the associations of age, gender, visual attention, and disease severity to on-road outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses determined the optimal UFOV RI cut points to predict on-road outcomes. Above adding age and gender, the UFOV RI alone predicted on-road outcomes in PD, while the UFOV RI and age predicted on-road outcomes in Controls. Regardless of disease severity, visual attention was more impaired in PD than in Controls. The UFOV RI cut point of 3 provided the fewest misclassifications ( n = 25) in PD. The UFOV RI is a valid screening predictor of on-road outcomes across PD drivers of different disease severity, but has moderate sensitivity and specificity.