Investigation of Driving Hazard Perception of Stroke Survivors

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to investigate the level of hazard perception of stroke survivors. Material and Methods: Twenty-one participants with stroke were included in this study. Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and Trail Making Test Part B (Trails B) were used to analyze participants’ driving hazard perception and cognitive skills related to driving. Bivariate correlations test was used to investigate the relationship between hazard perception and cognitive functions. Additionally, one sample T-test was used to determine whether or not the Trails B test results differ from the 106.7 seconds cut-off score. Results: Twenty-one participants (2 females, 19 males) with mean age 59.42 ± 11.07 years participated to the study. Participants had 30.52 ± 18,2 (min: 6, max: 65) mean scores from HPT and 165,38 ± 89,94 seconds (min: 65, max: 347) from Trails B. Bivariate correlations indicated HPT and Trails B had statistically significant negative excellent correlation (p<.05, r: .89). Additionally, one sample T test indicated Trail B scores were statistically different and higher from 106.7 seconds cut-off score (p<.05). Conclusion: It was found that participants had late responses to potential driving hazards and executive functions, visual-perceptual and visual-motor tracking. Hazard perception, on the other hand, is one of the most crucial skills directly related to crash risks. Clinicians and practitioners should consider training visual perception skills and hazard perceptions of stroke patients; because hazard perception should not only be related to driving but also being a pedestrian.

Keywords

• Automobile driving
• stroke
• risk assessment
• occupational therapy

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