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Effectiveness of a visual attention retraining program on the driving performance of clients with stroke
Barbara L Mazer1, Susan Sofer, Nicol Korner-Bitensky
1Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Réadaptation, Laval, QC, Canada. barbara.mazer@mail.mcguill.ca
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of a visual attention retraining program using the Useful Field of View (UFOV) with a traditional visuoperception treatment program on the driving performance of clients with stroke.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Rehabilitation hospital located in Quebec, Canada.
Participants:
Ninety-seven individuals referred for driving evaluation after a stroke.
Interventions:
Participants were randomized to receive 20 sessions of either UFOV training of visual processing speed, divided attention, and selective attention or traditional computerized visuoperception retraining.
Main Outcome Measures:
Subjects were evaluated with an on-road driving evaluation, visuoperception tests, and the Test of Everyday Attention. An occupational therapist unaware of group assignment conducted all evaluations.
Results:
Eighty-four participants completed the outcome evaluation. There were no significant differences between groups on any of the outcome measures. There was, however, almost a 2-fold increase (52.4% vs 28.6%) in the rate of success on the on-road driving evaluation after UFOV training for subjects with right-sided lesions.
Conclusions:
Rehabilitation that targets visual attention skills was not significantly more beneficial than traditional perceptual training in improving the outcome of an on-road driving evaluation. However, results suggest a potential improvement for subjects with right-sided lesions, indicating that training must target specific skills.