Visual testing for readiness to drive after stroke - A multicenter study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of a visu al-perception assessment tool, the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, to pr edict on-road driving outcome in subjects with stroke. Design: This was a retrospective study of 269 individuals with stroke who c ompleted visual-perception testing and an on-road driving evaluation. Drivi ng evaluators from six evaluation sites in Canada and the United States par ticipated. Visual-perception was assessed using the Motor-Free Visual Perce ption Test. Scores range from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating bette r visual perception. A structured on-road driving evaluation was performed to determine fitness to drive. Based on driving behaviors, a pass or fail o utcome was determined by the examiner. Results: The results indicated that, using a score on the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test of less than or equal to 30 to indicate poor visual-percep tion and >30 to indicate good visual perception, the positive predictive va lue of the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test in identifying those who would fail the on-road test was 60.9% (n = 67/110). The corresponding negative p redictive value was 64.2% (n = 102/159). Univariate logistic regression ana lyses revealed that older age, low Motor-Free Visual Perception Test scores and a right hemisphere lesion contributed significantly to identifying tho se who failed the on-road test. Conclusions: The predictive validity of the Motor-Free Visual Perception Te st is not sufficiently high to warrant its use as the sole screening tool i n identifying those who are unfit to undergo an on-road evaluation.