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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Older adults' perspectives on annual medical assessments for driving: A qualitative investigation
Journal of Transport & Health, Vol.42, pp.1-9
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Introduction
Despite their importance, annual medical assessments for driving (AMAD) can be considered stressful or confronting for older adults. A driver's licence represents a sense of freedom and independence, both of which are needed for optimal quality of life. This qualitative study explored older adults' experiences and opinions regarding these assessments, focusing particularly on cognitive function and how it relates to driving.
Methods
A total of 34 (14 females) older adults aged 60 years and over (Mage = 73 years, SD = 9, range = 60–93) were included in this study, and underwent an interview via telephone. Seventeen participants (50%) reported having experience with AMAD due to meeting the age requirement of 75 years, with an additional two participants having prior experience with assessments due to a health condition. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Five themes and 2 subthemes were produced from the data: (1) AMAD are important for road safety; (2) AMAD produce a variety of emotional responses; (3) AMAD appear to be ineffective with little face validity; (4) there are inconsistencies in how AMAD are performed and (5) AMAD require improvement; (5a) AMAD should involve practical skills testing; and (5b) mixed opinions exist as to whether an independent assessor should conduct AMAD.
Conclusions
While participants recognised the importance of AMAD for public safety, they expressed they should not be conducted on the basis of chronological age. Concerns were also raised regarding the standardisation and face validity of AMAD, with several suggestions for improvement being reported. This study provides a deeper insight into how older adults perceive AMAD and highlight potential ways in which they could be improved.
Details
- Title
- Older adults' perspectives on annual medical assessments for driving: A qualitative investigation
- Authors
- Kayla B. Stefanidis (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationTaren Mieran - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationMathew. J. Summers - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
- Publication details
- Journal of Transport & Health, Vol.42, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jth.2025.102047
- ISSN
- 2214-1413; 2214-1405
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Grant note
- This research was funded by the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration Grant.
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991121900402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Transportation
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