Patients with head and neck cancer may have poorer functioning in some driving proficiency compared to healthy individuals, according to a preliminary study published in Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (JAMA/Archives), September issue.

The authors explain “Driving is a complex task that requires adequate cognitive, psychomotor and visuoperceptualmotor functions that work together. These functions can be compromised to a greater or lesser extent in patients with cancer in the head and neck region who have received cancer treatment.”

Cancer treatment is such that a patient’s head and neck mobility may be impede. Cancer treatment might also produce cognitive impairments, pain and psychological distress - exposing the driver to greater risks.

Hon K. Yuen, Ph.D., O.T.R./L., Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and team evaluated the driving skills of ten head and neck cancer patients, whose average age was 56, as well as 50 members of the community, whose average age was 48. They used a virtual reality driving simulator - the scientists monitored their average speed, break reaction times, how much their vehicles offset from the center of the driving lane (steering variability), total collisions and the Simulator Driving Performance Scale. The Simulator Driving Performance Scale assesses the driver’s driving behavior and skills.

Share This