Nathan J Elgar1, Adrian J Esterman2, Nick A Antic3, Brian J Smith1,4. 1. Respiratory Medicine Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia. 2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 3. Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia, Australia. 4. Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Health professionals are frequently required to report to relevant authorities all drivers who are potentially unsafe due to medical conditions. We aimed to assess both the effect of mandatory reporting (MR) on patient self-predicted behavior and what factors might encourage unsafe drivers to self-report to these authorities. METHODS: We included 5 questions in the South Australian Health Omnibus Survey, an annual, community based, face-to-face survey. We asked (1) how subjects would behave towards their doctor in light of MR if they believed their licences were at risk due to a medical condition; and (2) which factor(s) would cause them to self-report to the same authorities. RESULTS: Responses to 3,007 surveys (response rate 68.5%, age 15-98) showed that 9.0% would avoid diagnosis, lie to their doctor, or doctor shop in order to keep their licence; 30.8% were unaware of the legislated requirement to self-report; and 37.9% were unaware of potentially jeopardizing insurance support if they failed to comply. If educated in these 2 areas, warned about the dangers of driving against medical advice and instructed to do so by their doctor, then 95.8% of people would self-report to the authorities, a number significantly higher than could be reported by their doctors (91.0%). CONCLUSIONS: MR causes 9.0% of people to predict to behave towards their doctor in a manner that reduces road safety. With education and encouragement to do so, more people will self-report to the authorities than could be reported by their doctors via the MR pathway. COMMENTARY: A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 287.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Health professionals are frequently required to report to relevant authorities all drivers who are potentially unsafe due to medical conditions. We aimed to assess both the effect of mandatory reporting (MR) on patient self-predicted behavior and what factors might encourage unsafe drivers to self-report to these authorities. METHODS: We included 5 questions in the South Australian Health Omnibus Survey, an annual, community based, face-to-face survey. We asked (1) how subjects would behave towards their doctor in light of MR if they believed their licences were at risk due to a medical condition; and (2) which factor(s) would cause them to self-report to the same authorities. RESULTS: Responses to 3,007 surveys (response rate 68.5%, age 15-98) showed that 9.0% would avoid diagnosis, lie to their doctor, or doctor shop in order to keep their licence; 30.8% were unaware of the legislated requirement to self-report; and 37.9% were unaware of potentially jeopardizing insurance support if they failed to comply. If educated in these 2 areas, warned about the dangers of driving against medical advice and instructed to do so by their doctor, then 95.8% of people would self-report to the authorities, a number significantly higher than could be reported by their doctors (91.0%). CONCLUSIONS: MR causes 9.0% of people to predict to behave towards their doctor in a manner that reduces road safety. With education and encouragement to do so, more people will self-report to the authorities than could be reported by their doctors via the MR pathway. COMMENTARY: A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 287.
Authors: Tracey L Bessell; Chris A Silagy; Jeremy N Anderson; Janet E Hiller; Lloyd N Sansom Journal: Aust N Z J Public Health Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 2.939
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