An online driving decision aid for older drivers reduces ambivalence and regret about driving decisions: Randomized trial
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19293
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12001976/pdf/
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Summary
Multi-site randomized controlled trial of the Healthwise online driving decision aid (DDA) versus an NIA-website control among 301 licensed drivers aged 70+ with at least one diagnosis associated with reduced driving ability, followed for 24 months. The DDA group reported significantly less decisional conflict (p_interaction=0.010) and decision regret (p_interaction=0.012) than controls, with the strongest decisional-conflict effect immediately post-intervention (aMR=0.87) and the strongest decision-regret effect at 12 months (aMR=0.45). Depression, life space, driving comfort, and crash rates did not differ.
Key finding
An online driving decision aid reduced uncertainty and post-decision regret about whether to keep driving for two years among older drivers, without harming community mobility or increasing crashes.
Methodology
Multi-site randomized controlled trial with intention-to-treat analysis. Generalized linear mixed models on repeated outcomes (Decision Regret Scale, Decisional Conflict Scale, PROMIS Depression, Life-Space Assessment, driving comfort, self-reported crashes) at baseline, post-intervention, and 6/12/18/24-month follow-up; covariates were baseline age, site, and pre/during-COVID baseline timing.
Sample size: N=301 (DDA n=150; control n=151); mean age 77.1 years; 51% female
Quality score: 5 / 5