Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T10:21:37.691Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dizziness, driving, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: audit of advice given to patients, and design of a patient information leaflet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2019

J D Sinnott ,
H Mahoney ,
A S Wilkinson  and
S J Broomfield
J D Sinnott*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, UK
H Mahoney
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Bristol Medical School, UK
A S Wilkinson
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, University of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, UK
S J Broomfield
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, University of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Joseph D Sinnott, 39c Chandos Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6PQ, UK E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Evidence from the literature shows that clinicians’ knowledge of rules and legislation surrounding driving can often be poor. A closed-loop audit was conducted to gauge the level of driving advice given to patients with dizziness.

Methods

The clinical notes of 100 patients referred to the vertigo clinic at a tertiary referral centre were retrospectively searched for evidence of driving advice. Education sessions were undertaken and a patient information leaflet was developed before a second cycle of the audit.

Results and conclusion

The proportion of patients having documented evidence of receiving driving advice increased from 6.3 per cent to 10.4 per cent. It is therefore clear that, despite this improvement, a significant proportion of patients’ notes did not contain documentation about driving. This is likely because of many reasons, including individual interpretation by clinicians. This paper provides a reminder of the rules, and discusses their interpretation and implementation in an increasingly medicolegal environment.

Keywords

OtologyDizzinessVertigoAutomobile Driving
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , September 2019 , pp. 822 - 824
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Mr J Sinnott takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

1Dizziness or vertigo and driving. In: https://www.gov.uk/dizziness-and-driving [27 July 2019]Google Scholar
2McKiernan, D, Jonathan, D. Driving and vertigo. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 2001;26:1–2Google Scholar
3Ng, KYB, Garnham, J, Syed, UM, Green, BL, Watson, R, Gollop, ND et al. Knowledge of Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency guidelines among NHS doctors: a multicentre observational study. JRSM Open 2015;6:2054270415601586Google Scholar
4Redelmeier, DA, Yarnell, CJ, Thiruchelvam, D, Tibshirani, RJ. Physicians’ warnings for unfit drivers and the risk of trauma from road crashes. N Engl J Med 2012;367:1228–36Google Scholar
5Kelly, R, Warke, T, Steele, I. Medical restrictions to driving: the awareness of patients and doctors. Postgrad Med J 1999;75:537–9Google Scholar
6Evans, A, Eng, CY. Driving and otolaryngology: do we know the rules? J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:181–4Google Scholar
7Yap, D, Shakir, A, Costello, R, Browning, S. Fitness to drive--how well do we know the rules? Survey of 19 ENT surgeons in Wales. Clin Otolaryngol 2017;42:1078–81Google Scholar
8MacMahon, M, O'Neill, D, Kenny, RA. Syncope: driving advice is frequently overlooked. Postgrad Med J 1996;72:561–3Google Scholar
9Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Assessing Fitness to Drive – A Guide for Medical Professionals. Swansea: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, 2018Google Scholar
10Gheriani, H, Leonard, D, Donnelly, M, Kane, R. Vertigo & driving--between the law and ethics. Ir Med J 2004;97:102Google Scholar
11Cohen, HS. Disability and rehabilitation in the dizzy patient. Curr Opin Neurol 2006;19:49–54Google Scholar
12General Medical Council. Confidentiality: Patients’ fitness to drive and reporting concerns to the DVLA or DVA General Medical Council. In: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/confidentiality---patients-fitness-to-drive-and-reporting-concerns-to-the-dvla-or-dva/ [27 July 2019]Google Scholar