Mobility Counseling Provided by Health Care Providers to Older Drivers: A Rural/Urban Comparison

Older drivers are overrepresented in motor vehicle crash fatalities.  As the U.S. population continues to age, this problem will deteriorate.  Health care providers (HCPs) are in a position to provide education to their older patients which may prevent further motor vehicle fatalities.  Rural older adults are more likely to equate driving with mobility and quality of life due to a lack of alternative transportation options, often requiring them to continue driving longer.  This study sought to compare the frequency of mobility counseling provision among rural and urban HCPs to older adults, in addition to determining barriers to providing this information.  Surveys were administered to HCPs and older adults in rural and urban areas in the upper Midwest.   Rural HCPs were less likely than urban HCPs to provide mobility counseling to their patients.  One of the greatest barriers HCPs listed to providing mobility counseling was lack of time during patient visits.  Rural HCPs were also less likely than urban HCPs to feel there are adequate resources for older drivers in their communities, and were less likely to know where to refer their patients in need of driving fitness testing.  Rural older adults are receiving less information than their urban counterparts related to driving cessation, possibly putting them at greater risk for driving-related injuries and fatalities.  Future research should evaluate the potentially beneficial role of mobility counseling for rural older drivers.  Additionally, future research should further investigate the reasons for rural/urban differences in mobility counseling provision by HCPs.