Driver Training for Stroke
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores how well stroke survivors can improve their driving skills through a special training program. Veterans who have experienced a stroke on either the right or left side of their brain will participate. The study compares two groups: one practices specific driving skills like speed management and collision avoidance, while the other acclimates to the simulator without targeted training. The goal is to determine if targeted training improves participants' driving abilities. Veterans who had a stroke at least three months ago and have prior driving experience may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers veterans the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance rehabilitation techniques for stroke survivors.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It would be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that this Active Driver Training Intervention is safe for Veteran stroke survivors?
Research has shown that using simulators to train stroke survivors can be helpful and is usually well-received. Participants who underwent this training performed better on subsequent driving tests, suggesting its effectiveness. The training emphasizes crucial driving skills, such as speed control and accident avoidance, making it applicable to real-life driving.
As this training involves no medical procedures and includes practice with feedback, it is considered low-risk. Studies have not reported any major side effects from similar training methods. Overall, this driving training appears safe and could effectively improve driving skills after a stroke.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it focuses on improving driving skills after a stroke, a critical aspect of independence and quality of life for many patients. Unlike traditional rehabilitation methods that may focus more on general physical or cognitive recovery, this trial specifically targets the cognitive and motor skills required for safe driving. By tailoring training to the specific hemisphere affected by the stroke—either the right or left—this protocol aims to address the unique challenges each group faces, potentially leading to more effective and personalized rehabilitation outcomes.
What evidence suggests that the Active Driver Training Intervention is effective for improving driving performance in stroke survivors?
This trial will compare the effectiveness of an Active Driver Training Intervention with a Control Intervention for stroke survivors. Research has shown that driving rehabilitation can enhance driving skills in stroke survivors. Studies have found that individuals who received simulator training were more likely to pass a real driving test three months later. One study discovered that after training, 45% of stroke patients returned to driving and showed improvement in various skills affected by their stroke. Intensive therapy, involving more than 120 hours of training, is linked to better recovery results. These findings suggest that specific driver training can effectively boost driving performance in stroke survivors.13567
Who Is on the Research Team?
Krista Schendel Parker, PhD BA
Principal Investigator
VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Active Driver Training
Participants receive targeted practice on driving skills including speed management, collision avoidance, lane positioning, and dashboard attention
Control Intervention
Participants engage in familiarization drives with the driving simulator, without skill-specific practice
Follow-up
Participants are re-assessed in the driving simulator to measure stability of post-intervention driving performance and complete a questionnaire on current driving status
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Active Driver Training Intervention
- Control Intervention
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Participants with a history of a unilateral stroke affecting the right cerebral hemisphere.
Participants with a history of a unilateral stroke affecting the left cerebral hemisphere.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Rehabilitation for improving automobile driving after stroke
The primary outcome of interest was the performance in an on‐road assessment after training. Secondary outcomes included assessments of vision, cognition and ...
2.
obrienphysicaltherapy.net
obrienphysicaltherapy.net/blog/post-stroke-rehabilitation-outcomes-statistics-on-physical-therapy-effectivenessPost-Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes: Statistics on Physical ...
The effectiveness of rehabilitation improves significantly with intensive therapy; studies have shown that training totaling over 120 hours can ...
Driving Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients: A Systematic ...
This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the evidence for the therapeutic effects of driving rehabilitation on return to driving in stroke patients.
Driving After Stroke - Clinical Pathways in Stroke Rehabilitation
Participants who received simulator training were more likely to succeed on a formal on-road driving test at 3 months after training compared to ...
Abstract TP181: Community Based Outpatient Stroke ...
After training, 45%(65/143) returned to driving. Patients had improvement in all 9 domains of Stroke Impact Scale with SIS total score improving an average of ...
6.
neurolrespract.biomedcentral.com
neurolrespract.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42466-025-00406-yStroke survivors show an overestimation of their on-road ...
Our results suggest that the VSA of the own driving competence is impaired after stroke. Other than expected, the differences between stroke ...
Study Details | NCT06672107 | Driver Training After Stroke
It is predicted that the Active Driver Training Intervention will result in improved driving performance, relative to the Control condition.
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