No abstract

Significant others have substantial influence on post-TBI driving outcome. The findings highlight the importance of independent driving to community integration, as well as psychoeducation of survivors and their families.

Driving status has unique and substantial influence on community integration following stroke. Social support facilitated community integration but did not substantially buffer the effects of driving cessation. Although men and women resumed driving at equal rates, driving cessation showed differential effects for men and women in regard to their community integration. Research is needed to design interventions that promote full engagement in community living among persons who cease driving after stroke.

Although the temporal stability of the shift in awareness is not known, these results support the use of driving simulators as a useful and safe method of assessing and potentially improving stroke survivors' ISA.