Performer: Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF)
Principal Investigator: Tara Casanova Powell, MS

Project Duration: 9/08/15-9/07/17

Regulatory Science Challenge

There is a general consensus in the field of road safety that a wide range of prescription medications may impair driving, thus increasing the risk of crashing. Recent efforts have been made to address patient knowledge about risks and proper instructions involved when using certain medications. Despite these recent efforts, overall, little work has been conducted to identify evidence-based, current strategies for health care professionals (HCPs) to effectively communicate with their patients about the effects of prescribed medications on driving abilities. As a result, HCPs have little guidance regarding the types and content of messages about driving risk due to taking prescribed medications that have the greatest impact on patients.

Project Description

Traffic Research Injury Foundation (TIRF) aims to gain an intimate understanding of health care professionals’ and the patients’ respective knowledge, opinions and behaviors in relation to driving-related impairment due to prescribed pain medications. The project will also capture contextual information that shapes communications between HCPs and patients, and develop an educational resource using the principles of a Knowledge Translation (KT) model. The educational resource will be evaluated, then refined. The expected benefits of the project include improved communication between HCPs and patients and ultimately an increased level of road safety in the country.

Project Goals

• Systematic review of the literature and an environmental scan of practices around the world in relation to the efficient communication between HCPs and patients about the risks of driving under the influence of medicinal drugs
• Focus groups and interviews with patients and HCPs, including primary care physicians, pharmacists, rehab physicians, subspecialists such as neurologists, and nurse practitioners/physician assistants
• Development of educational resource based on the data obtained through the systematic review, environmental scan, and focus groups/interviews
• Pilot educational resource