BACKGROUND: Some stroke survivors hope to resume driving after hospital discharge. For those who had driven frequently before their stroke, a normal daily life depends on being able to drive. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores predict patient driving ability, which would make them a suitable index for determining if a stroke patient can resume driving. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 71 patients who suffered from stroke. We divided them into three groups based on their driving status after discharge: (1) resumed driving (Driver), (2) wish to resume driving (Wisher), and (3) no wish to resume driving (Non-wisher). We compared total FIM scores and subcategories of FIM scores across groups. RESULTS: Scores on the Motor-FIM and Cognitive-FIM were highest in the Driver group, followed by the Wisher and Non-wisher groups. Moreover, scores on the 'problem solving' and 'memory' subcategories of the Cognitive-FIM were significantly higher in the Driver group than in the Wisher group. CONCLUSIONS: The FIM could be a useful assessment tool for determining whether or not stroke patients can resume driving. Moreover, among the Cognitive-FIM sub-categories, problem solving and memory ability might be the scores most relevant for this decision.
BACKGROUND: Some stroke survivors hope to resume driving after hospital discharge. For those who had driven frequently before their stroke, a normal daily life depends on being able to drive. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores predict patient driving ability, which would make them a suitable index for determining if a strokepatient can resume driving. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 71 patients who suffered from stroke. We divided them into three groups based on their driving status after discharge: (1) resumed driving (Driver), (2) wish to resume driving (Wisher), and (3) no wish to resume driving (Non-wisher). We compared total FIM scores and subcategories of FIM scores across groups. RESULTS: Scores on the Motor-FIM and Cognitive-FIM were highest in the Driver group, followed by the Wisher and Non-wisher groups. Moreover, scores on the 'problem solving' and 'memory' subcategories of the Cognitive-FIM were significantly higher in the Driver group than in the Wisher group. CONCLUSIONS: The FIM could be a useful assessment tool for determining whether or not strokepatients can resume driving. Moreover, among the Cognitive-FIM sub-categories, problem solving and memory ability might be the scores most relevant for this decision.
Authors: Therese M O'Neil-Pirozzi; Anthony H Lequerica; Nancy D Chiaravalloti; Shannon B Juengst; Jody K Newman Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2021 May-Jun 01 Impact factor: 3.117