Abstracts

Rationale: Driving a motor vehicle has been and continues to be a major concern for people with epilepsy (PWE). We explore the attitudes of PWE regarding the ability to operate a motor vehicle in a reporting state (NJ) vs. a non-reporting state (AZ) before being evaluated for the first time at a tertiary epilepsy referral centers. Counseling for driving will be a part of the new safety and quality initiatives for PWE proposed by AES and American Academy of Neurology. Methods: A prospective anonymous questionnaire was filled out by new epilepsy consult patients at Mayo Clinic Arizona and New Jersey Neuroscience Institute-JFK. Only patients that are currently being treated for epilepsy and having a valid license or previously having a valid license were included. Questions eliciting the PWE experience were analyzed about being told when they could drive, effects of medications on driving, overall safety to drive with epilepsy, being honest with their doctor about seizure reporting, involvement in seizure caused crashes and driving despite being told not to drive by health care providers. A total of 159 completed surveys were included in the study, 43 surveys were rejected due to the patient not having epilepsy (incorrect referral to epilepsy clinic) or incomplete information. Results: Approximately 50% or less of these referral patients have had discussions with previous providers about driving restrictions due to seizures, 52% AZ vs. 35% NJ (NS p=0.13). A small number of PWE continue to drive even after being told not to drive, 13% AZ vs. 8% NJ (NS p=0.5). A small number of PWE report having had a crash due to a seizure 11% AZ vs. 4% NJ (NS p=0.24). Approximately 2/3rds of PWE feel they are safe to drive while less than 10% feel their seizure medications affect their ability to drive. Conclusions: The vast majority of PWE feel they are honest with their doctor regarding seizure recurrence and its influence on driving in reporting and non-reporting states. A small number of PWE will continue to drive against medical advice. Approximately 50% or more of PWE report having not been adequately counseled on driving restrictions and epilepsy. Results suggest there is an opportunity to improve counseling of PWE and driving a motor vehicle in both reporting and non-reporting states.