Table 2.

Evidence of themes.

Domain	Themes	No: Of comments	Sample comments
Psychological/cognitive impact on ability to drive	Confidence in relation to driving ability	27	Respondent 21 – Male, 76: “Confidence an important factor (lack of) after long hospital stay”
			Respondent 42 - Male, 64: “Apprehensive at first; start/ed when confident in self”
	Ability to drive – intrinsic motivation	25	Respondent 16 – Male, 66: “Important for ‘return to normal”
			Respondent 19 – Female, 55: “Wanted to return to being the person I was before all this trauma”
	Concentration	10	Respondent 12 – Female, 75: “Extremely muddled after discharge; more alert now”
			Respondent 36 - Male, 61: “It’s your mental ability that’s the problem; unable to deal with all the information around you, difficult to process it; things move too fast after a prolonged period of not driving”
	Emotional readiness	9	Respondent 31 – Female, 74: “Nerve wracking at first”
			Respondent 41 – Male, 76: “Emotional rollercoaster”
	Anxiety	7	Respondent 5 – Male, 34: “Didn’t want to rush and put family in danger”
			Respondent 15 – Female, 72: “Felt so vulnerable (so waited longer than advised)”
Physical ability	Physical recovery	20	Respondent 5 - Male, 34: “Not strong enough at first; waited until gained some weight”
			Respondent 9 – Female, 31: “Hard work in arms; waited until I could do an emergency stop; had an open wound (covered) – waited until it didn’t hurt”
	Weakness/Fatigue	7	Respondent 2 – Female, 56: “Too tired initially; body so utterly weakened; Strength began to return after a few weeks. Even after 2 months still to tiring to drive more than 1h; Motorway driving tiring”
			Respondent 37 – Male, 71: “Felt weak and listless with no energy and not until 5/6 weeks that felt able”
Supportive care and information needs	Timescales	41	Respondent 1 - female, 68: “Approx. 3 months (1st time)”
			Respondent 29 – Male, 60: “At least 10 weeks”
	Information from ICU/Recovery clinic/GP	34	Respondent 8 - Male, 75: “Asked ward doctor (concerned re: medication side effects); advised if could brake, okay”
			Respondent 23 - female, 36: “Discussed with work and GP; GP advised against it at first. Course arranged via work. No information given from hospital (how/when/legalities).”
	Guidance/other (distance)	26	Respondent 16 – Male, 66: “Initially, short journeys only; should be part of post-ICU debriefing process”
			Respondent 12 – Female, 75: “Try to drive in quiet area with company”
	Suggestions	9	Respondent 8 – Male, 75: “Short trips at first; not unduly limited now. Should seek advice, especially if long period of not driving; short trips to be advised at first for others”
			Respondent 12 – Female, 75: “Driving instructor session would be useful before deciding to drive”