A qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach was undertaken in South Australia to explore how 3 elderly people (aged 70-80 years) who had been hospitalized with stroke experienced the initial impact of the loss of their ability to drive following discharge. In-depth interviews were the primary form of data collection. The main themes emerging from the data were expectation of the loss, acceptance of the loss, lack of acceptable transport alternatives, lack of control over the loss, an altered lifestyle and loss of independence. Many of the reported assumptions in the literature that loss of ability to drive has negative psychological, social and functional implications were supported by the results of this study. However, the findings from this study that the expectation of the loss was variable and that the Ss felt that they lacked control over the loss had not previously been reported. The results have several implications for clinical practice, including consideration of the time at which the loss is discussed with older people and the need to prepare them for the loss. (A)
Abstract