BACKGROUND: Certain jurisdictions in Canada legally require that physicians report unfit drivers. Physician attitudes and patterns of practice have yet to be evaluated in Canada for patients with brain tumours. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 97 radiation oncologists, eliciting demographics, knowledge of reporting laws, and attitudes on reporting guidelines for unfit drivers. Eight scenarios with varying disability levels were presented to determine the likelihood of a patient being reported as unfit to drive. Statistical comparisons were made using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Of physicians approached, 99% responded, and 97 physicians participated. Most respondents (87%) felt that laws in their province governing the reporting of medically unfit drivers were unclear. Of the responding physicians, 23 (24%) were unable to correctly identify whether their province had mandatory reporting legislation. Physicians from provinces without mandatory reporting legislation were significantly less likely to consider reporting patients to provincial authorities (p = 0.001), and for all clinical scenarios, the likelihood of reporting significantly depended on the physician's provincial legal obligations. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of provincial legislation is of primary importance in determining whether physicians will report brain tumour patients to drivers' licensing authorities. In Canada, clear guidelines have to be developed to help in the assessment of whether brain tumour patients should drive.
BACKGROUND: Certain jurisdictions in Canada legally require that physicians report unfit drivers. Physician attitudes and patterns of practice have yet to be evaluated in Canada for patients with brain tumours. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 97 radiation oncologists, eliciting demographics, knowledge of reporting laws, and attitudes on reporting guidelines for unfit drivers. Eight scenarios with varying disability levels were presented to determine the likelihood of a patient being reported as unfit to drive. Statistical comparisons were made using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Of physicians approached, 99% responded, and 97 physicians participated. Most respondents (87%) felt that laws in their province governing the reporting of medically unfit drivers were unclear. Of the responding physicians, 23 (24%) were unable to correctly identify whether their province had mandatory reporting legislation. Physicians from provinces without mandatory reporting legislation were significantly less likely to consider reporting patients to provincial authorities (p = 0.001), and for all clinical scenarios, the likelihood of reporting significantly depended on the physician's provincial legal obligations. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of provincial legislation is of primary importance in determining whether physicians will report brain tumourpatients to drivers' licensing authorities. In Canada, clear guidelines have to be developed to help in the assessment of whether brain tumourpatients should drive.
Entities:
Keywords:
Canadian health system; Driving; brain tumour; guidelines
Authors: Chris Simpson; Paul Dorian; Anil Gupta; Robert Hamilton; Stephen Hart; Barry Hoffmaster; George Klein; Andrew Krahn; Peter Kryworuk; L Brent Mitchell; Paul Poirier; Heather Ross; Magdi Sami; Robert Sheldon; Jim Stone; Jan Surkes; F James Brennan Journal: Can J Cardiol Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 5.223
Authors: Mark J Rapoport; Nathan Herrmann; Frank J Molnar; Malcolm Man-Son-Hing; Shawn C Marshall; Ken Shulman; Gary Naglie Journal: CMAJ Date: 2007-09-11 Impact factor: 8.262
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
Authors: E Chan; A V Louie; M Hanna; G S Bauman; B J Fisher; D A Palma; G B Rodrigues; A Sathya; D P D'Souza Journal: Curr Oncol Date: 2013-02 Impact factor: 3.677
Authors: A V Louie; E Chan; M Hanna; G S Bauman; B J Fisher; D A Palma; G B Rodrigues; A Warner; D P D'Souza Journal: Curr Oncol Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 3.677