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Do Demographics and Functional Abilities Influence Vehicle Type Driven by Older Canadians?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2016

Brenda Vrkljan ,
Alexander Crizzle ,
Simon Villeneuve ,
Michelle Porter ,
Sjaan Koppel ,
Barbara L. Mazer ,
Gary Naglie ,
Michel Bédard ,
Holly A. Tuokko  and
Isabelle Gélinas
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Brenda Vrkljan*
Affiliation:
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University
Alexander Crizzle
Affiliation:
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
Simon Villeneuve
Affiliation:
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Michelle Porter
Affiliation:
Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba
Sjaan Koppel
Affiliation:
Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University
Barbara L. Mazer
Affiliation:
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal; Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital
Gary Naglie
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences; Department of Research, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network; Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Michel Bédard
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Safe Driving and Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University
Holly A. Tuokko
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Department of Psychology, University of Victoria
Isabelle Gélinas
Affiliation:
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal; Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital
Shawn C. Marshall
Affiliation:
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Mark J. Rapoport
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Brenda H. Vrkljan, Ph.D., O.T. Reg. (Ont.) Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy School of Rehabilitation Science McMaster University IAHS Bldg., Rm. 450 1400 Main St. W. Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7 (vrkljan@mcmaster.ca)
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Abstract

In this study, we examined the Candrive baseline data (n = 928; aged 70 to 94; 62% were men) to determine whether driver characteristics (i.e., age, gender, height, weight, BMI) and certain functional abilities (i.e., Rapid Paced Walk, Timed Up and Go) influenced the types of vehicles driven. There were significant differences with respect to type of vehicle and mean driver age (F = 3.58, p = 0.003), height, (F = 13.32, p < 0.001), weight (F = 14.31, p < 0.001), and BMI (F = 4.40, p = 0.001). A greater proportion of drivers with osteoporosis (χ2 = 21.23, p = 0.020) and osteo/rheumatoid arthritis (χ2 = 21.23, p = 0.020) drove small and medium-sized cars compared to larger ones. Further research is needed to examine older driver-vehicle interactions, and the relationship to demographics and functional abilities, given the vulnerability of this age group to automotive-related injuries.

Résumé

Dans cette étude, nous avons examiné les données de base Candrive (n = 928; âge de 70 à 94; 62% étaient des hommes) pour analyser si les caractéristiques des conducteurs (âge, sexe, taille, poids, IMC) et certaines capacités fonctionnelles (c’est-à-dire, le test de rythme rapide à pied, le test “Up and Go”) ont influencé les types de véhicules conduits. Il y avait des différences significatives en ce qui concerne le type de véhicule et l’âge du conducteur (F = 3,58, p = 0,003), la taille (F = 13,32, p <0,001), le poids (F = 14,31, p <0,001) , et l’IMC (F = 4,40, p = 0,001). Une plus grande proportion de conducteurs qui souffrait d’ostéoporose (χ2 = 21,23, p = 0,020) et ostéo / polyarthrite rhumatoïde (χ2 = 21,23, p = 0,020) conduisait des voitures de petite ou moyenne taille par rapport aux plus grandes tailles. D’autres recherches sont nécessaires pour examiner l’interaction des conducteurs âgés avec leurs véhicules, et la relation à la démographie et aux capacités fonctionnelles, compte tenu de la vulnérabilité de ce groupe d’âge à des blessures automobiles.

Keywords

vieillissmentIMCconduiteconducteurs âgésconception automobileagingBMIdrivingolder driversvehicle design
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 35 , Special Issue S1: Older Driver Research: Evidence to Guide Change / Recherche sur la conduite automobile des personnes âgées : des preuves afin de guider le changement , June 2016 , pp. 92 - 98
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 

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