OBJECTIVES: To determine geriatrician knowledge regarding how to prevent a patient with dementia who is a potentially dangerous driver from driving and to determine their willingness to recommend license revocation against the wishes of both the patient and the patient's family. Included is a comparison of responses from geriatricians in California, where related legislation has existed for a decade, with responses from geriatricians from all other US states combined. DESIGN: Survey sample. SETTING: Geriatric practices. PARTICIPANTS: Probability sample of 467 geriatricians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey responses. RESULTS: More than 28% of all geriatricians (95% CI, 24.3%-32.7%) do not know how to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers. A 22% difference (95% CI, 13.9%-30.8%) exists between California geriatricians and those in all other US states. More than 75% (95%, CI, 71.5%-79.5%) of all geriatricians agreed that physicians are responsible for reporting patients. More than 86% (95% CI, 83.2%-89.6%) of all geriatricians would contact state authorities despite the objections of the patient, and 72.9% (95% CI, 68.7%-77.1%) would contact authorities despite the objections of the patient's family. CONCLUSIONS: Although most geriatricians will act to protect the public from patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers, many do not know how to report these drivers. Legislation can improve a physician's ability to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers.
OBJECTIVES: To determine geriatrician knowledge regarding how to prevent a patient with dementia who is a potentially dangerous driver from driving and to determine their willingness to recommend license revocation against the wishes of both the patient and the patient's family. Included is a comparison of responses from geriatricians in California, where related legislation has existed for a decade, with responses from geriatricians from all other US states combined. DESIGN: Survey sample. SETTING: Geriatric practices. PARTICIPANTS: Probability sample of 467 geriatricians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey responses. RESULTS: More than 28% of all geriatricians (95% CI, 24.3%-32.7%) do not know how to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers. A 22% difference (95% CI, 13.9%-30.8%) exists between California geriatricians and those in all other US states. More than 75% (95%, CI, 71.5%-79.5%) of all geriatricians agreed that physicians are responsible for reporting patients. More than 86% (95% CI, 83.2%-89.6%) of all geriatricians would contact state authorities despite the objections of the patient, and 72.9% (95% CI, 68.7%-77.1%) would contact authorities despite the objections of the patient's family. CONCLUSIONS: Although most geriatricians will act to protect the public from patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers, many do not know how to report these drivers. Legislation can improve a physician's ability to report patients with dementia who are potentially dangerous drivers.
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Keywords:
Empirical Approach; Mental Health Therapies; Professional Patient Relationship
Authors: Marian E Betz; Jacqueline Jones; Emma Genco; David B Carr; Carolyn DiGuiseppi; Jason S Haukoos; Steven R Lowenstein; Robert Schwartz Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2014-05-02
Authors: Raymond W Jang; Malcolm Man-Son-Hing; Frank J Molnar; David B Hogan; Shawn C Marshall; Julie Auger; Ian D Graham; Nicol Korner-Bitensky; George Tomlinson; Matthew E Kowgier; Gary Naglie Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 5.128