Abstract

The UC San Diego Training Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDs) program worked with the Memory Aging and Resiliency Clinic (MARC) at the UC San Diego (UCSD) Department of Psychiatry to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of driving safety counseling for patients with memory concerns. Patients who presented for care to the Memory Aging and Resiliency Clinic were given a battery of cognitive testing, for the purposes of assessing and diagnosing their memory issues, and this project supported additional testing during these visits, including vision and frailty testing as well as testing using a driving simulator where participant permission and time permitted. Counseling was provided to the patients at the Memory Aging and Resiliency Clinic clinic exit interview, including cognitive diagnosis. A post-recommendation assessment was provided to the patient or family within 1-2 months via phone. In total, 25 clients were seen: 6 were advised to stop driving, 2 to limit their driving; and the others were given advice on how to continue to driver safety. The pilot informed the generation of protocols on driving screening for other geriatric clinics, and these protocols have been posted at the Training Research and Education for Driving Safety website treds.ucsd.edu. The feasibility and acceptability of driving safety counseling have not been well studied to date in memory clinics, and this report provides guidance for implementing similar programs across the state.