Driving with a chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a review of patients' perspectives

Abstract

Objective: To document troublesome driving tasks and any changes in driving behavior reported by people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WADs).

Design: Descriptive study; semistructured interview.

Setting: Tertiary institution.

Participants: Patients (N=33) with chronic WAD.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale for neck pain at rest and while driving, exposure section of the Driving Habit Questionnaire, self-rating perceived current driving ability, semistructured interview about presenting symptoms, troublesome driving tasks, and perceived changes in driving behavior after a whiplash injury.

Results: Subjects (24 of 33; 73%) reported a decrease in driving ability, rating an average of 6.7±2.2 on an 11-point scale (0, unable to drive; 10, driving at preinjury level). These subjects scored higher on the NDI (41.8%±18.4%), experienced greater neck pain at rest (4.3±2.1/10) and while driving (5.7±2.1/10), and reported decreased concentration more frequently than those who rated their driving ability at a preinjury level (ie, 10). The most frequently nominated troublesome driving tasks were checking blind spots, prolonged driving, and reversing/reverse parking, and the most frequently cited changes in driving behavior included more use of trunk rotation (75%), altered steering wheel grip (63%), more anxious/nervous while driving (54%), and more cautious driving (50%).

Conclusions: The chronic whiplash population appears to have unique troublesome driving tasks (eg, prolonged driving, checking blind spots) that are not readily detected in currently available driving ability/difficulty scales, suggesting that a new scale may be required for this population.