The ability to drive is often affected in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) because of the motor, visual, or cognitive deficits commonly associated with the condition. In this study, we investigated the accuracy with which the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment (SDSA), an established battery for the prediction of driving performance of stroke survivors, would predict driving performance of individuals with MS. Driving performance of 44 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (mean ± SD age, 46 ± 11 years; 37 females and 7 males) who were currently driving at least once a month was predicted using their performance on the SDSA. Outcomes of a road test and the Useful Field of View (UFOV) test were used as measures of driving ability. Participants' performance on both the road and UFOV tests was predicted with more than 80% accuracy. The SDSA was more accurate in predicting who would pass the two tests than who would fail the tests. The SDSA battery appears to be a good predictor of driving performance of individuals with relapsing-remitting MS, especially those who have sufficient cognitive skills to continue driving. Larger studies are needed to definitively establish its predictive accuracy and confirm the validity of the predictions. Int J MS Care. 2012;14:65-70.
Evaluations on fitness-to-drive of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) usually involve the administration of several physical, visual, and cognitive tests. In some instances, a practical road test is also administered. The use of several tests, many of which are only remotely driving-related, increases the time, cost, and human resources involved in the evaluation process, and sometimes lead to erroneous decisions. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of using a short battery of a few highly predictive tests to predict fitness-to-drive of individuals with MS. Fortyfour individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (age = 46 ± 11 years, 37 females) and Expanded Disability Status Scale values between 1 and 7 were administered selected physical, visual and cognitive tests including the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment (SDSA) battery. Performance on 12 cognitive and three visual tests were significantly associated with participants' performance on a practical road test. The Stroop Color test, Direction, Compass, and Road Sign Recognition tests from the SDSA, and the Speed of Processing test from Useful Field of View test battery together explained 59% of the variance and predicted the pass or fail outcome on the road test with 91% accuracy, 70% sensitivity, and 97% specificity. The five psychometric/off-road tests, which together can be administered in less than 45 minutes, cost approximately $150, and is 91% accurate, can be used as a screening battery. Those who pass should be further tested on-road to finally decide their fitness-to-drive while those of fail should be further evaluated, trained, or advised on alternative transportation means. Future studies are needed to confirm and validate the findings in this study.
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