ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 270
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
Evaluation of driving ability in collaboration among family
physicians and occupational therapists in a community
hospital in Japan
Dr Hikotaro Hashimoto, Takashi Akaiwa
Kaita Hospital
Background
The population with cognitive impairment is increasing in Japan as the population of Japan is ageing.
The main means of transport is motor vehicles in non-urban areas where public transport is scarce. It
has become one of the most important issues in community healthcare to assess the ability to drive
safely in cases of limb impairment and cognitive dysfunction due to cerebrovascular disorders.
Objective
This presentation introduces the practice of driving ability assessment in collaboration among family
physicians and occupational therapists in our hospital.
Activities
Our hospital is located in a non-urban area in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan, and is a small community
hospital led by family physicians with outpatient, home visit and inpatient (96-bed acute and postacute care) functions.
Family physicians and occupational therapists work together regarding driving ability evaluation
without rehabilitation doctor, mainly for patients with cerebrovascular disorders.
In FY 2021, 35 patients were enrolled in our driving ability evaluation. Twenty-two (62.9%) patients were
judged to be capable of driving safely based on comprehensive evaluation. Patient demographics
were: average age 63.6 years (min 38, max 88), MMSE average 27.8 (min 21, max 30), 23 males and
12 females. The causative diseases were 32 cerebrovascular disorders, two brain trauma and one
other, including 19 cognitive dysfunction.
The assessments were carried out in 16 outpatient, 15 inpatient and four home visit settings, with
median days since onset of 82 (min 13, max 2001).
Discussion
It is difficult for family physicians alone to evaluate driving ability, which is a complicated and
specialised field involving limb movements, cognitive function and social systems. There is a council
consisting of rehabilitation doctors and driving school personnel in Fukuoka Prefecture. In the council,
information is exchanged on assessment items, interpretation methods and communication with the
local government, which helps to ensure the quality of our evaluation.
268