Acute Care Occupational Therapy and Fitness to Drive
Principal Investigator: Dr. Lilliana Alvarez, PhD, MSc, OT Reg. (Ont.), School of Occupational Therapy, Western University
Student: April Vander Veen, PhD Student, MSc. OT, OT Reg. (Ont.), Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University
Study description: In 2018, the Highway Traffic Act (1990) was amended to grant occupational therapists (OTs) the authority to report drivers to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation who may have a condition or impairment that may impact driving ability. A study undertaken shortly after the legislative changes revealed that OTs experience some uncertainties regarding this newfound responsibility, and that further research is needed to understand how OTs address driving in practice.
OTs work in a variety of contexts, with unique practice needs. As such, it is important to understand how this change affects individual practice areas. To date, little is known about the role of OTs in addressing fitness to drive in acute care hospital settings. Acute care settings are fast-paced environments, which may pose unique challenges for addressing driving.
The purpose of this study is to describe the actual practices of Ontario OTs in the acute care setting in terms of (1) what skills and knowledge are relevant, (2) how OTs have gained skills and knowledge, and (3) how competent OTs feel to address driving in practice.
Eligible participants: Participants are eligible if they are an Ontario occupational therapist practicing in a clinical role in an acute care setting, (i.e., general hospital) with adults 18 years of age or older. OTs who are on a leave of absence from acute care (i.e., parental, medical, or education leave) who are not currently practicing, but have practiced in acute care in the last 2 years are also eligible to participate.
Deadline to participate: August 1, 2022