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Background Assessing an older adult's fitness-to-drive is an important part of clinical decision making. However, most existing risk prediction tools only have a dichotomous design, which does not account for subtle differences in risk status for patients with complex medical conditions or changes over time. Our objective was to develop an older driver risk stratification tool (RST) to screen for medical fitness-to-drive in older adults. Methods Participants were active drivers aged 70 and older from 7 sites across 4 Canadian provinces. They underwent in-person assessments every 4 months with an annual comprehensive assessment. Participant vehicles were instrumented to provide vehicle and passive Global Positioning System (GPS) data. The primary outcome measure was police-reported, expert-validated, at-fault collision adjusted per annual kilometers driven. Predictor variables included physical, cognitive, and health assessment measures. Results A total of 928 older drivers were recruited for this study beginning in 2009. The average age at enrollment was 76.2 (standard deviation [ SD ] = 4.8) with 62.1% male participants. The mean duration for participation was 4.9 (SD  = 1.6) years. The derived Candrive RST included 4 predictors. Out of 4 483 person-years of driving, 74.8% fell within the lowest risk category. Only 2.9% of person-years were in the highest risk category where the relative risk for at-fault collisions was 5.26 (95% confidence interval = 2.81–9.84) compared to the lowest risk group. Conclusions For older drivers whose medical conditions create uncertainty regarding their fitness-to-drive, the Candrive RST may assist primary health care providers when initiating a conversation about driving and to guide further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which described the development of Vitality Plus Scale model in measuring potential health-related benefits of exercising. Methodology; Results of the study; Discussion of the results.

Investigates the discriminative and evaluative properties of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, which is used to detect functional mobility and independence in older adults. Findings of four studies conducted on the scale; Conclusion which reveals that balance confidence is amenable to change and that the scale can be used to distinguish between elders at various levels of functional mobility.

Compares several psychological indicators of balance confidence in relation to physical performance, past and current experience, gender bias, and other perceptions of daily functioning in ambulatory elders. Assessment of self-perceived need for personal assistance; Stronger relation of perceived balance capabilities to current behavior than to past experience.

Studies the rehabilitation and prevention of falls in the elderly. Replication of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and compares it with the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale; Development of the ABC instrument; Use of walking aids to test the discrimination ability of various balance tests.