Improvement of Older Safety Through Self Evaluation: The Development of a Self-Evaluation Instrument

Eby, D.W., Shope, J.T., Molnar, L.J., Vivoda, J.M., Fordyce, T.A. 2000. Improvement of Older Safety Through Self Evaluation: The Development of a Self-Evaluation Instrument.
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This research project was designed to increase safety in the older driver population by developing and testing a self-evaluation instrument. The instrument is intended for drivers who may be starting to experience declines in driving abilities or loss of confidence in certain driving situations. The instrument is designed to give people a source of information about themselves in addition to all of the other cues they are receiving about their current or future driving. The purpose of the instrument is twofold: 1) For those drivers willing and able to assess their own driving abilities, the instrument can give feedback for making good driving decisions by increasing self-awareness and general knowledge (of their driving abilities, medication use, and health status), and by suggesting appropriate driving restrictions and clinical evaluations; and 2) Increase general awareness of age-related declines in driving abilities for generating discussion with peers and within families. This report documents the development and testing of the selfevaluation instrument, Instrument development proceeded in three phases. The first phase invol14ed the development of a framework for the instrument. The second phase involved the selection and development of questions to be asked and feedback to be offered. The last phase involved a evaluationlvalidation study of the instrument to determine whether or not certain parts of the instrument measured what they were supposed to measure, and to determine, by self-report, whether or riot selfawareness was increased. While analysis of the evaluationlvalidation study data is still untlerway, preliminary evidence shows that the workbook increased general knowledge and self-awareness and was perceived as a useful tool for generating discussions within the families of older drivers.