Table 1.
Major categories of nurse practitioner strategies for determining when to intervene with an older driver (n = 89 incidents).
| Major category | Number of incidents | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| (I) Identifying changes in physical status (38 incidents, 43%) | ||
| (1) Identifying physical frailty (decreased mobility and strength) | 21 | 55% |
| (2) Assessing changes in sensory impairment | 12 | 32% |
| (3) Evaluating symptoms of new onset neurologic disease | 2 | 5% |
| (4) Assessing changes in patient's functional status | 2 | 5% |
| (5) Evaluating postmyocardial infarction status | 1 | 2% |
| (II) Evaluating older driver's mental status (35 incidents, 39%) | ||
| (1) Assessing diminished short-term memory, forgetfulness, or diagnosis of dementia | 30 | 86% |
| (2) Assessing for impulsivity/lack of judgment | 5 | 14% |
| (III) Hearing concerns from family members (10 incidents, 12%) | ||
| (1) Obtaining collateral information from family members | 10 | 100% |
| (IV) Evaluating medications (3 incidents, 3%) | ||
| (1) Evaluating medications for drowsiness side-effects | 3 | 100% |
| (V) Retrieving driving information (2 incidents, 2%) | ||
| (1) Obtaining a self-report of impaired driving | 1 | 50% |
| (2) Retrieving a report of a motor vehicle accident | 1 | 50% |
| (VI) Assessing drug and alcohol abuse (1 incident, 1%) | ||
| (1) Assessing history of drugs and/or alcohol abuse | 1 | 100% |