Driving Simulator Training for Brain Injury
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The aim of this project is to prepare adults with acquired brain injuries for on-road driving by using the driving simulator and increase participant's comfort level, confidence, and independence within their occupation of driving. The occupational therapy faculty are interested in identifying the impact driving simulation training has on individuals with acquired brain injuries and how it prepares them for on-road driving. We hope that the information from this project will help us gather information on how driving simulation training improves pre-driving skills related to comfort, confidence, and independence.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Sheelagh Schlegel, DrHSc, MPH, OTR/L
Principal Investigator
Sacred Heart University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults over 18 with an acquired brain injury who drove before their injury and still have a valid driver's license. It aims to help them get ready for on-road driving again by using a driving simulator.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Pre-Driving Intervention
Participants receive either eight sessions of driving simulator training or traditional occupational therapy
Post-Intervention Assessment
Participants undergo pre- and post-testing using assessments to measure readiness-to-drive
Follow-up
Participants are referred to a certified driving rehabilitation specialist for a behind-the-wheel assessment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Driving Simulator Training
Trial Overview
The study compares traditional occupational therapy with a driving simulation intervention to see which better prepares individuals with brain injuries for real-world driving in terms of comfort, confidence, and independence.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants will be randomly assigned to either the driving simulator (eight sessions) or eight sessions of traditional occupational therapy as a control group. Clients in the driving simulator intervention arm will receive eight sessions in a Drive Safety R-300 driving simulator. This simulator is a partial Ford Focus cab with a full interior, standard driving controls, and instrumentation, The exercises and realistic driving scenarios on the Drive Safety R-300 simulator will enable participants to have an immersive driving experience with interactive traffic, scripted behavior models, and triggered events. The researcher will initially provide more guided feedback during the motor tasks using a series of exercises in the simulator. More difficult motor tasks will be introduced gradually. As clients' motor skills became more refined, driving practice will be introduced in diverse scenarios and environmental conditions to improve the transfer and generalizability of motor skills.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either the driving simulator (eight sessions) or eight sessions of traditional occupational therapy as a control group. Participants in the control, occupational therapy group will receive interventions based on typical occupational therapy assessments which assess range of motion, strength, coordination, functional mobility and self care management. Participants will receive sessions that focus on their deficits using occupation-based interventions to improve their assessed deficits.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Sacred Heart University
Lead Sponsor
Unbiased Results
We believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your Data
We only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials Only
All of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.