Scientific publications on driving by older adults: scope review

Abstract

Objective

To map national and international scientific evidence regarding driving by older adults.

Method

Scope review based on the manual proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Searches were conducted in the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO databases, and grey literature through Google Scholar.

Results

Out of 1,194 studies identified, 189 papers meeting eligibility criteria were selected. Pioneering countries in publications were Australia and the United States, with the peak of research occurring between 2013 and 2014. Study participants included healthy older adults (63.49%, 120), followed by those with Alzheimer's disease (17.46%, 33), Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (11.11%, 21), Parkinson's disease (6.88%, 13), and other comorbidities (19.58%, 37). Various interventions were identified, with 94.02% (178) assessing the effectiveness of instruments measuring the fitness of older drivers.

Conclusion

There was a prevalence of studies aimed at identifying assessment tools to measure the functionality of older drivers. This underscores the importance of standardized, validated, and economically viable assessments that contribute to identifying at-risk drivers. The need for interventions in geriatrics and gerontology was evident, emphasizing the necessity for actions to establish a specialized multidisciplinary team in vehicular driving. This approach seeks to align licensing guidelines with the specific needs of older drivers, taking into account social, economic, political, and educational aspects, particularly within the Brazilian traffic departments.

Keywords
Older adult; Vehicle Driving; Driver’s License Examination; Traffic Safety; Occupational therapy